He’s been the face of the State for six years. One of the most visible — and divisive — politicians of the COVID era.

And as such, he featured on some of The West Australian’s most memorable front pages in recent years.

Here is how the State’s newspaper reported on premier Mark McGowan in some of his most newsworthy moments.

FRIDAY APRIL 3, 2020 – ‘UNITED STATE OF WA’

It was the policy that would make Mr McGowan the most popular politician of his age.

A hard border closing WA off from the rest of Australia, effectively declaring independence as its “own country” to keep out the spread of COVID-19.

“We’ll be turning WA into an island within an island,” McGowan said.

As that ‘united state’, McGowan and his colleague Ben Wyatt and Roger Cook were depicted on the side of Mount Rushmore – while they warned West Australians wanting to return to “come home now”.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 – ‘OUR WESTRALIA DAY’

In a stunning endorsement of the hard borders that Mr McGowan insisted on, then PM Scott Morrison conceded WA was different from the rest of the country and was entitled to set its own rules.

Acknowledging WA’s special position as the economic powerhouse of the nation, the Prime Minister said it would not have to join his “aspirational goal” of reopening State and Territory borders by December.

He said he respected Premier Mark McGowan’s decision to stand firm.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 9, 2020 – ‘CAPTAIN WESTRALIA’

Genius Illustrator Don Lindsay went to town again, depicting Mr McGowan as Captain Westralia, and then treasurer Ben Wyatt as Iron Ore Man, as the State Budget was predicted to be $1.2 billion in the black despite the pandemic.

Wyatt talked up the importance of the hard border, warning a second wave of infections could plunge WA’s economy into a “deep and damaging recession”.

Mr McGowan said the Budget was focused on “keeping WA safe and strong”.

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 2022 – ‘YOU’RE A WIZARD, PREMIER’

In one of his strongest ever statements about the Federal political arena, McGowan unloaded on incoming Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton – calling him an “extremist” who isn’t “that smart”.

The Liberal Party — at State and Federal level — were a “fringe group” which had abandoned “mainstream” Australians.

“I don’t think he’s that smart. I’ve seen him present on things, I don’t really pick up that there is much there,” he said about Dutton – who was depicted as Voldemort battling the wand-wielding Premier.

THURSDAY MAY 18, 2023 – ‘YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME’

The strong bond between Federal Labor and the WA powerhouse were confirmed by a post-Budget speech by treasurer Jim Chalmers – who also promised to stick by the GST agreement.

That friendship was likened to that of Buzz Lightyear and Woody in the Toy Story franchise by The West’s front page artists.

And Chalmers liked the image so much he used it as part of his tribute to the departing Premier.

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