Clive Palmer: Prime Minister Scott Morrison backs McGowan Government’s emergency legislation in $30b bid

Scott Morrison has backed WA in its high-stakes legal battle with Clive Palmer, and has “wished the McGowan Government well” in its bid to legislate against the mining magnate. The Prime Minister said he had no concerns with the passing of unprecedented emergency legislation to block Mr Palmer’s bid to claim $30 billion from WA. “I wish (WA) well in dealing with it,” he said. And Mr Morrison took the opportunity to reiterate his belief that Mr Palmer should “drop his other case” challenging WA’s hard border closure. It comes as Mr Palmer hit out at WA following the passing of the legislation last night, calling it an “outlaw State”. He confirmed he would mount a High Court challenge against the legislation. “This matter will be thrown out by the High Court and (Premier Mark McGowan and Attorney-General John Quigley) will be as stupid as they look because they’ve down-valued every investment in Western Australia,” he said on Sunrise. Mr Palmer said his actions were driven to ensure government did not “undermine our culture and what we stand for”. “I’m not interested in making life harder for Western Australians but I am interested in protecting our liberty,” he said. While Scott Morrison voiced his support for Mr McGowan against Mr Palmer, he said he still believed border closures should only be put in place to contain outbreaks, as was the case in Victoria and NSW. “Focusing on the containment of where the outbreak is has always been, we think, the priority,” he said. “States and Territories, I can assure you though, have been very adamant about their sovereignty when it comes to who sets their borders.” Mr Morrison said there was “resistance to the idea” in National Cabinet of setting guidelines for when borders should open and close. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese criticised Mr Morrison for changing his view on Mr Palmer and WA’s border closure “when the mood changes”. “This is not a Prime Minister who is showing leadership on issues like the need to protect Western Australians,” he said. “West Australians should be very grateful that they have Mark McGowan leading that State, rather than Scott Morrison as his ally Clive Palmer.”