Rita Saffioti hoses down prospect of Mark McGowan playing any role in Voice campaign in WA

Acting Premier Rita Saffioti has hosed down the prospect of Mark McGowan playing a starring role selling the Voice to West Australians, insisting he had “retired from public life” and no longer wanted to be “involved in public discourse”.

The comments came less than 24 hours after Perth MP Patrick Gorman said he was “sure” Mr McGowan wold be “out on the trail helping out the Yes campaign”.

Also speaking on Tuesday, Federal Indigenous Affairs Minister Linda Burney said she would “love” WA’s recently departed Premier to lend his considerable popularity to the Yes camp.

But that appears unlikely, with Ms Saffioti pouring cold water on the prospect when questioned while visiting his former electorate of Rockingham on Wednesday.

Ms Saffioti said Mr McGowan’s “priority” was supporting Labor candidate Magenta Marshall in the by-election triggered by his shock resignation and the he “feels very obligated to support the Rockingham campaign”.

“But you know, he retired from public life and I think he’s wanting to not be involved in public discourse,” she said.

“And so he’ll come out and support Magenta in this seat but we also have to respect his wishes that he actually retired from public life.”

Mr McGowan has been approached for comment over whether he intends to campaign publicly for the Voice.

Recent polling has found declining support for proposed Indigenous advisory body nationally, with opposition strongest in Queensland and WA.

Mr McGowan’s resignation at the end of May came at a time when his popularity – although diminished from the stratospheric heights reached during the depths of COVID — remained at historic levels.

Convincing the recently departed Premier to play a central role in the Yes campaign in WA would be viewed as a major boon given Mr McGowan’s enduring appeal with older and more conservative swathes of the electorate whose votes will likely prove decisive in the referendum.

Mr McGowan was this week also floated as a potential replacement for Australia’s departing ambassador to China Graham Fletcher, with Nine newspapers reporting “business leaders” had put forward the former Premier as a potential candidate.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong is expected to announce the new ambassador imminently, with Mr McGowan not considered a serious option – a view shared by Ms Saffioti who shot down the possibility on Wednesday.

“As I said, I think the former Premier is spending time with his family contemplating his future and supporting Magenta in this seat,” Ms Saffioti said.

“And that’s what he’s concentrating on. I think we need to give him a bit of a break.

“He retired from public life. I talk to him regularly. He’s enjoying his retirement from public life.”