LIFE AND TIMES OF MARK MCGOWAN
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
EARLY LIFE
* Born July 13, 1967, in Newcastle, NSW
* Attends schools in Casino and Coffs Harbour
* Graduates with a law degree from the University of Queensland in 1989
NAVAL CAREER
* Began working as a legal officer for the Royal Australian Navy in 1989
* Drives across the Nullarbor in a Toyota Corolla after being posted to the HMAS Stirling naval base on Garden Island, south of Perth
* Awarded a commendation for brave conduct in 1996 as a lieutenant when he rescues a driver from a burning vehicle
POLITICAL START
* Gains Labor preselection and wins the seat of Rockingham in 1996 after becoming deputy mayor of his local council
* Becomes parliamentary secretary to then-premier Geoff Gallop after Labor wins the 2001 election
* Promoted to the ministry when Labor is returned to office in 2005
OPPOSITION YEARS
* Loses partyroom vote for the deputy leadership after Labor is defeated in the 2008 election
* Elected leader of the opposition in 2012 after Eric Ripper resigns
* Retains the partyroom's confidence after Labor loses the 2013 election
* Gradually improves support in the polls and leads Labor to a comfortable victory in 2017
FIRST TERM
* Embarks on a major expansion of the public transport network through the Metronet program
* Passes legislation enabling voluntary assisted dying, protecting native wetlands and cracking down on dangerous drivers
* Declares a state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 and closes interstate borders, making WA "an island within an island"
* Hails the tough COVID-19 response as a major success amid low case numbers compared to the eastern states
* Introduces emergency legislation in 2020 to prevent billionaire Clive Palmer from suing the state over a decision not to assess one of his mining projects
* After being sued for defamation by Mr Palmer, whom he labelled an "enemy of the state" among other insults, launches a taxpayer-funded countersuit
* Leads Labor to a crushing election victory in 2021, reducing the opposition to a handful of seats and securing his party an unprecedented double-majority
SECOND TERM
* Appoints himself as treasurer in a surprise move, saying it was necessary to ensure WA's GST share was protected
* Faces growing criticism over the state's prolonged border closures as other jurisdictions return to normal conditions
* Removes the last remaining border closures in March 2022 after almost two years of restrictions
* Declares WA to be the "envy of the nation" after delivering a $5.7 billion budget surplus
* A Federal Court judge rules the premier and Mr Palmer defamed each other, awarding damages to both parties
* Criticised for likening riots in youth detention to terrorism and claiming fetal alcohol spectrum disorder was being used to excuse poor behaviour
* Hands down 2023 state budget forecasting a sixth consecutive operating surplus
* In a snap press conference on May 29, 2023, cites exhaustion for his shock decision to quit politics midway through his second term
Australian Associated Press
