WA Election

West Australian Election

Springboard Australia again conducted online focus group research in conjunction with the e-journal, Online Opinion, for the recent West Australian election.

Full details of the West Australian election, including seat and candidate details, focus group research, electoral pendulum, our blog and chat rooms are available on our site www.ozelections.com.

The Labor Gallop Government was returned in what many have described as a "come from behind surprise outcome".

Faced with an unhelpful electoral redistribution, a malapportionment and poor opinion polling results, Geoff Gallop's Government was expected to be defeated after its first term.

In a campaign dominated by the Coalition's water canal proposal, Opposition Leader Barnett's suitability and a massive costing blunder in the final few days by Barnett, the ALP was returned comfortably with a 5.2 percent increase in their primary vote to 42.4 percent.

Latest figures indicate that the Labor Government will be returned with 32 seats, two more than previously. The Liberal Party will pick up 15 seats, and increase of one and the National Party steady at four seats. The new WA Parliament will have two independents, a reduction of three.

Liberal leader Colin Barnett has indicated he will stand down as leader. At the time of publication, the front-runner for his replacement is the 35-year old Kalgoorlie MP, Matt Birney. Birney was first elected to the WA Parliament at the 2001 State election.