The Western Australian election has taken an unexpected turn with the Liberal leader Libby Mettam conceding defeat and Labor appearing close to securing victory, according to election analyst Antony Green. However, the election night was not without its complications. A power outage at the Kojonup counting station stalled the vote count, and reports of voters being turned away from polling booths added to the chaos, though the WA Electoral Commission assured that "no-one was refused the opportunity to vote."
Labor’s vote has seen a decline, yet this shift has not benefited the Liberal party directly. Despite a 10.6 percent swing against Labor, the party is still poised for what could be its second-biggest victory in the state's history. Green noted that the Liberal vote is also down at this stage, with Basil Zempilas slightly ahead on preference estimates.
“It's not an overwhelming figure for Basil Zempilas at this stage." – Antony Green
In a notable development, the Liberals have reclaimed traditionally conservative seats like Nedlands and Carine and have retained Mettam's seat of Vasse. Meanwhile, National Party leader Shane Love is predicted to hold his seat.
Power Outage Disrupts Vote Counting
As election night unfolded, a power outage at the Kojonup counting station in WA's Great Southern region brought the vote tallying process to a halt. Officials had no choice but to wait for electricity to be restored before they could resume counting. Despite this setback, the WA Electoral Commission maintained that voting opportunities were unaffected across the metropolitan area.
The commission acknowledged issues only in Cockburn, located in Perth's south, countering claims of voters being turned away at multiple polling stations. This assertion was met with skepticism from some voters, adding tension to an already tumultuous election day.
“There was talk about Spearwood running out of ballots; my polling place was so quiet they started giving out the hot dog buns!” – Phoebe
Shifts in Party Dynamics
Antony Green highlighted a significant shift in voting patterns, noting that while Labor's vote is down, it isn’t transferring directly to the Liberal party. He observed a presence of independents in regions like Churchlands, suggesting that votes may be dispersing across various candidates rather than consolidating under major parties.
“In Churchlands there's a presence of the Independent there … perhaps the Labor vote is spraying elsewhere on the ballot paper. It's not going directly across to the Liberal Party," – Antony Green
Despite these shifts, Labor's potential victory remains substantial, signaling a decisive moment in Australian political history. Rita Saffioti, an ABC TV panellist, underscored the magnitude of this win:
“Now we could see at this election the biggest swing in Australian history. We could see a swing of 15 per cent at this election… but it still would deliver Labor a substantial majority.” – Rita Saffioti
Leadership and Future Implications
Libby Mettam's concession marks a pivotal moment for the Liberal party as they strategize their path forward. Andrew Hastie expressed support for Mettam's leadership and emphasized her efforts over the past year.
“I think Libby Mettam has done a lot of good work over the last year or so to get us to where we are today… I back Libby Mettam." – Andrew Hastie
As results continue to trickle in, WA Labor heavyweights, alongside family and friends, have gathered in Roger Cook's Kwinana electorate. The mood remains anticipatory as they await final outcomes.
Roger Cook reflected on broader voter sentiments, indicating potential challenges for major parties:
“I thought we would have done better… there are still warnings for both major parties, start listening to people on the ground.” – Roger Cook
