WA Premier Mark McGowan has indicated he would oppose Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s proposal to hand the Commonwealth powers to declare a national state of emergency.

Responding to the bushfire crisis which has led to the deaths of 33 people in the eastern states, Mr Morrison used a major speech in Canberra this week to announce he would examine Australia’s constitutional and legal framework for ways to allow the federal government to deploy troops to deal with disasters and emergencies.

Mr McGowan said coordination between the tiers of government was the key in responding to national disasters and emergencies Credit:Wolter Peeters

This would come with “clear authorities and appropriate safeguards for Commonwealth action on its own initiative”.

Any change would likely be achieved by the states passing legislation to cede powers to the Commonwealth rather than through a referendum to change the constitution.