Not so tired now, Premier? Mark McGowan takes his FIFTH new job since quitting politics - after he said he was too exhausted to carry on
- Ex-WA Premier Mark McGowan quit due to exhaustion
- Little more than a year later, he's had five jobs
Former Western Australia premier Mark McGowan has stepped into his fifth job a year after he dramatically quit politics due to exhaustion.
His latest gig has already earned him share options worth almost $500,000 in potential profit, having soared 10 per cent in the last 24 hours.
Mr McGowan was state leader for six years, but rose to national prominence during the Covid pandemic due to his hardline border closures which cut the West off from the rest of the nation.
Last May, he appeared visibly emotional as he announced his departure from the top job: 'Today I'm announcing I'll be stepping down as premier and member for Rockingham.
'I'm tired, extremely tired. In fact, I'm exhausted... this [job] is all consuming. Combined with the Covid years, it's taken it out of me.
'I just don't have the energy or drive to continue with the role as premier, or to fight in an election.'
By October, he had four jobs - one as a senior advisor with former federal treasurer Joe Hockey's consulting firm, Bondi Partners, and another as a strategic advisor with Mineral Resources.
The fatigued ex-pollie also joined BHP as a consultant, sat on an advisory panel of disability employment provider APM Human Services International.
On Monday, Frontier Energy's chief executive Adam Kiley announced Mr McGowan had been appointed as the company's new non-executive chairman - and was reportedly handed two million share options.
Mark McGowan (pictured with his wife, Sarah) has taken on five jobs since he quit politics due to exhaustion
Mark McGowan is pictured speaking to the media on his last day in office, June 2, 2023
The first one million are exercisable at $0.20, further 500,000 options are exercisable at $0.25, and the remaining 500,000 exercisable at $0.40 - and they will all expire in December, 2027.
FHE shares were worth about $0.40 in early August. Since Mr McGowan's recruitment was announced, they have now jumped to $0.51, netting him a potential profit of $495,000.
On Tuesday, he told mining.com.au that he was excited about the company's Waroona Project, which is about 120km out of Perth and touts itself as one of the nation's largest renewable energy programs.
'Frontier's Waroona Project stands out as a significant asset in Western Australia's transition, at a time when energy security is paramount, and the state continues to experience new demand records,' he told the website.
'This is the first step in our strategy to become a large-scale producer of renewable energy.'
He will begin on September 2.
Mark McGowan appeared emotional as he announced he would quit politics in 2023 (pictured)
Earlier this year, the McGowan clan sold their Rockingham home for $1.6million (pictured)
The appointment represents the latest feat in what has already been a big year for the McGowan clan.
In January, the former premier and his wife Sarah sold their sprawling Rockingham home for $1.6million, before they bought a new six-bedroom house in Fremantle for $3million.
They bought the Rockingham property for $527,000 in 2002, knocked the existing home down and built a two-storey home with four bedrooms and coastal views.
In June, he was one of six people appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in the King's 2024 birthday honours.
'My deep gratitude goes to the people of WA for being so kind to me,' he said at the time.
'Thank you to my former colleagues, staff and the Labor Party.
'I was very fortunate to have their support during my time as Premier and throughout my parliamentary career - without that support I would not have achieved anything.'
