Former WA Premier Mark McGowan has told business leaders to be “relentless” in their pursuit of political influence and backed creation of a new ministerial portfolio
Former WA Premier Mark McGowan has told co-operative business leaders to be “relentless” in their pursuit of political influence and backed creation of a minister dedicated to the sector.
Mr McGowan was speaking at a Business Council of Co-operatives and Mutuals summit in Perth on Wednesday morning alongside industry heavyweights such as Wesfarmers’ Michael Chaney, CBH Group’s Ben Macnamara, and Capricorn Society’s David Fraser.
The meat of his speech revolved around building influence in politics and dealing with a crisis.
Mr McGowan said constant contact with senior politicians and public servants, regulators, and political rising stars was crucial to ensuring an organisation’s worth to the state – and to policy – was known.
“It is incredibly important they understand who you are, what you do, what your role is, the benefits you provide, the prosperity you bring, the jobs you create,” he said.
“You engage, you engage, you engage.
“Don't annoy them, educate them.”
Mr McGowan said a suggestion to create a co-operatives ministerial portfolio by outgoing Capricorn boss Mr Fraser was a “terrific idea”.
In canvassing lessons from managing COVID-19, Mr McGowan said centralized decision-making, having a singular goal in sight, and not doing “dumb things” were key to dealing with a crisis.
And in a somewhat contrarian opinion, Mr McGowan said reducing consultation and trusting your gut was imperative for quick decision-making.
“It was really quite an extreme time, and it dominated my life for years,” he said.
“You need to sacrifice yourself – there is no work life balance.
“I had to deal with the anti vaxxers and all the madness, the eastern states (media) attacks, all the criticism, but you sacrifice yourself to get to the outcome that you want to get to.”
The life-consuming nature of COVID management turned Mr McGowan into a household name, a fact which he said ultimately played a role in his resignation last year.
“You really could not go anywhere… without people taking a photo or saying something to you, so by the end you get a bit punch drunk by it,” he said.
“I don't really regret it or miss it.
“I still like going to the occasional function and events and so forth, but I didn't want to have to go to them five, six nights a week.”
The former premier still showed some of the WA salesman spark which boosted his popularity as he stepped up for the keynote speech at the Ritz-Carlton in front of local and interstate business leaders.
He paraded the state’s AAA credit rating, budget surpluses, lack of pokies or toll roads, trade income, and gas reservation policy, and poked fun of delegates from “less fortunate” states in light-hearted opening remarks.
Mr McGowan also handed a bouquet to local media, which he described as “nice and sweet” compared to the “hostile” talkback-dominated news cycle of the east coast.
On co-operatives, Mr McGowan noted four of Australia’s 10 largest revenue-earning firms were based in WA.
The largest, CBH, has employed both of his sons.
Mr McGowan also touched on the state of the nation, which he said ‘beat itself up’ too much.
He said Australia was the envy of the world on many economic and social indicators and ran a more mature democracy than “some parts” of the world.
“We do have some headwinds,” he said.
“Who knows what's going to happen in the United States and then what happens to their trade and fiscal policies and the instability that might occur there.
“And I think we should avoid getting into any disputes with our largest trading partner.”