Mark McGowan and PM Anthony Albanese take tour of Rockingham for by-election campaigning

Labor has put “the gang” back together again for the Rockingham by-election. For the second week in a row, retired premier Mark McGowan was rolled out to win votes at the upcoming by-election triggered by his shock resignation. But this time, his old mate Albo was by his side. Mr McGowan and Mr Albanese walked the streets of Rockingham, posing for pics for adoring fans. New Premier Roger Cook and Rockingham candidate Magenta Marshall were also part of the Albo-McGowan show, but were not the Main Act. Clearly, Mark McGowan and Anthony Albanese were the main players in a carefully orchestrated Labor plan to feast on their popularity and shore up votes at the upcoming by-election. “I’m learning to cook. I’m doing lots of things I haven’t done in a long time,” Mr McGowan told a local. Mr McGowan was accompanied by two of his children, and his mother and father on Saturday’s outing. It follows the former premier’s rockstar welcome at the launch of Ms Marshall’s campaign last Saturday. The former Rockingham MLA had Labor faithfuls eating out of his hands, cracking a few jokes. “It’s unusual to be wearing a suit to be honest with you,” Mr McGowan said at the launch. “The only suits I wear these days have a track in front of them.”