The latest instalment of Follow the Leaders continues our pilot series of interviews with the “COVID Premiers” - the group of first ministers who steered their states and territories through the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. With the exception of ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, all have since left politics.

In this short video, they reflect on their experience of National Cabinet: how it strengthened federalism, mitigated some of the downsides of political tribalism and provided a forum for sub-national leaders to access advice and insights from commonwealth bodies.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Hon. Mark McGowan (WA), the Hon. Peter Gutwein (Tas), the Hon. Dominic Perrottet (NSW), the Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk (Qld), Steven Marshall (SA) and Andrew Barr (ACT) for their generous cooperation in this research.

About Follow the Leaders

It is over 20 years since the last substantive research on the work that premiers do.

The Follow the Leaders series begins to address this gap, with MKI’s Head of Research Anne Tiernan sitting down with some of the nation’s most influential leaders, who share their honest reflections on leading and learning.

Our pilot series focuses on unpacking the frank and considered reflections of Australia’s covid-era premiers to investigate changing ideals of democratic stewardship, legacy and inheritance through contemporary insight and comparison.

The challenges posed by the pandemic illuminate the central role that sub-national leaders play in Australia's federal framework. Their role as leaders of the level of government responsible for frontline delivery of services like healthcare and for coordinating with each other, the Commonwealth and local governments makes their experience particularly relevant and useful.

The series gives interviewees the opportunity to reinvest their hard-won insights back into the political ecosystem, enriching the next generation of leaders through the McKinnon platform, network and programs.

As this series evolves, we’ll continue to build on and share the unique insights that the interviews uncover.