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"He's bought some sort of massive supply of hydroxychloroquine which is for other illnesses on the back of some theory that somehow it helps with COVID," the Premier said.

"All the evidence from around the world is it does not help with COVID and in fact if you take it it's not good for you.

"He's accepted the Donald Trump view of hydroxychloroquine, which no one with a medical degree as far as I'm aware accepts."

Earlier this month the US Food and Drug Administration said patients using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19 had reported "serious heart rhythm problems and other safety issues, including blood and lymph system disorders, kidney injuries, and liver problems and failure".

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Mr Palmer said in April his philanthropic foundation bought the medicine and donated it the national drug stockpile "for the free use of the Australian people".

In a media statement, he described hydroxychloroquine as "the best hope for those suffering COVID-19".

But Mr McGowan said "all the evidence is not only is it not a cure, but it's actually dangerous".

"So him coming to Western Australia to promote a dangerous drug, I don’t think was a good thing for our state and I'm pleased the police rejected him," he said.