Furious Mark McGowan accuses Morrison government of ‘mission to bring Covid into WA’

Premier goes on offensive as federal treasurer warns same economic support won't remain if states and territories continue lockdowns

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The Western Australian premier, Mark McGowan, has accused the Morrison government of being on a mission" to bring coronavirus into the state as the federal treasurer doubled down on warnings state leaders should not expect financial assistance if they failed to deliver the national reopening plan.

McGowan responded furiously on Wednesday to a suggestion from the federal attorney general, Michaelia Cash, that the legal scope for the premiers to keep their borders closed would decrease once local vaccination rates increased.