Election News Archive
Ripper elected Labor Leader
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The outgoing West Australian Treasurer Eric Ripper has been elected as the new leader of the Labor Party.
Remote conditions 'caused election swings'
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The National Rural Health Alliance says recent election results in NT and WA highlight concerns over conditions in remote and regional Australia.
Labor MPs gather to elect new leader
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Labor MPs have begun arriving at Parliament House to elect a new leader.
Missing Geraldton votes to be excluded
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The West Australian Electoral Commission will finalise the result for the seat of Geraldton this morning, despite missing about 6 per cent of the votes.
Battle for Labor leadership neck and neck
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Alannah MacTiernan and Eric Ripper have emerged as frontrunners to replace Alan Carpenter as the Labor Party's next leader.
Labor moved on as Liberals move in
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The Premier in waiting Colin Barnett says Labor Ministers have three days to clear out their offices before new Liberal Ministers move in.
Labor moves out as Liberals move in
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The Premier in waiting Colin Barnett says Labor Ministers have three days to clear out their offices before new Liberal Ministers move in.
Whitby turns on D'Orazio on Morley preferences
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The Labor candidate for Morley, Reece Whitby, has labelled John D'Orazio's decision to direct preferences towards the Liberal Party as a vindictive act of revenge.
Labor MP calls on Carpenter to quit politics
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A Labor MP has called on the outgoing Premier Alan Carpenter to quit the Parliament to make way for a fresh face.
WA election a lesson for governments: Rann
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South Australian Premier Mike Rann says the result of the Western Australia election shows governments must stay engaged with the electorate.
More than 1,000 votes 'lost' in Geraldton
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The outgoing member for Geraldton believes a byelection will have to be held to decide the seat after the West Australian Electoral Commission revealed more than 1,000 votes have been lost from last weekend's poll.
WAFF backs Grylls' Liberals decision
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Western Australia's peak agriculture group says the leader of the Western Australian Nationals, Brendon Grylls, made the right decision in choosing to side with its traditional ally the Liberal Party.
Barnett eyes uranium to meet Nationals demands
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West Australian Liberal Premier-elect Colin Barnett has pinpointed royalties from uranium mining as a source of funds to cover his deal with the Nationals to enable him to form government.
Barnett to be sworn in as 29th Premier
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The Premier-elect Colin Barnett will meet the Nationals Leader Brendon Grylls this morning to work out how the parties will share power in Western Australia's parliament.
Carpenter stands down as WA Labor leader
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The former WA premier, Alan Carpenter, has conceded he has lost the state election and announced he will be resigning as Labor leader.
Nationals hand WA election win to the Liberals
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The Western Australian Nationals have handed the Liberals victory in the state election.
WA's political future clearer today
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WA's political future will become clearer in the next few hours with the WA Nationals due to announce which party it will form an alliance with to govern the state for the next four years.
Catania takes North West seat: WAEC
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The WA Electoral Commission (WAEC) has confirmed Labor candidate Vince Catania has claimed the seat of North West.
Election count continues
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The outcomes in five seats, which are still undecided since last Saturday's state government election in WA, are expected to be known tonight.
South Australian MP to speak to WA Nationals
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A South Australian Nationals MP, who is a minister in the Labor government, is in Perth as the WA Nationals meet to decide which major party they will support to form government.
Nationals to make decision by tomorrow
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The Western Australian Nationals are meeting at a Perth hotel this morning to decide which party will get their backing.
Handling of WA election appalling: federal MP
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A federal Labor MP has attacked the Western Australian Electoral Commission's (WAEC) handling of the state election and has called for Parliament to investigate.
Labor puts finishing touches on Nationals proposal
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The WA Labor Party is finalising the proposal it hopes will convince the Nationals to help it form a minority government.
Teachers vote on pay deal amid election limbo
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Teachers have until 10am to vote on the pay deal offered by the Carpenter government.
Last minute meetings as election goes down to the wire
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A special cabinet meeting held by the Premier Alan Carpenter to brief his Ministers on the offer he will put to the Nationals Leader Brendon Grylls has finished.
I will survive: Carpenter
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The Labor Leader Alan Carpenter says his leadership will be strong if he is able to strike a deal with the Nationals to help his party remain in power.
Barnett fine tuning Libs/Nat alliance
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The Liberal Leader, Colin Barnett, says he is finished working on a proposal to present to the Nationals in the hope they can form a government in Western Australia.
Bowler to side with Nationals
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The National Party has been given more power to determine which party will form government with the Independent Member for Kalgoorlie, John Bowler, announcing he will side with the party.
Grylls: Nationals support hinges on Carpenter
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The Nationals Leader Brendon Grylls has indicated that his party's support for Labor would hinge on Alan Carpenter remaining leader.
WAEC: Election result this weekend
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The WA Electoral Commission expects vote counting to be completed on Saturday.
Grylls denies Nationals policy will threaten WA's credit rating.
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The Nationals leader, Brendon Grylls, is rejecting Treasury's costings for the party's policies and the claim it could threaten the state's credit rating.
Slow count sparks calls for inquiry
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Former Labor MP, John Halden, is calling for a public inquiry into the way the West Australian Electoral Commission (WAEC) has run the election.
WA's AAA credit rating 'at risk'
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The Department of Treasury and Finance has issued a veiled warning that the Nationals' royalties for regions policy could put Western Australia's AAA credit rating at risk.
Nationals 'likely' to hold balance of power
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The Nationals Leader Brendon, Grylls, says it is looking increasingly likely his party will hold the balance of power in the West Australian Lower House.
Accuracy of WA election count 'paramount'
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The Liberal Party says it is satisfied with the West Australian Electoral Commission's timetable for counting preferences in 11 seats likely to determine the outcome of the state election.
WA election hinges on handful of seats
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The Liberal and Labor Parties are furiously negotiating with the National Party in the state's political back rooms, but there is a possibility the Nationals leader Brendon Grylls may not be Western Australia's kingmaker after all.
Election limbo drags on
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Four days after the West Australian state election there is still no result.
Labor unlikely to win in own right: Carpenter
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The Premier, Alan Carpenter, says it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Labor Party will win enough seats to form government.
Barnett hold talks with Bowler
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The Liberal Leader, Colin Barnett, has held a meeting with the Independent Member for Kalgoorlie, John Bowler, in what he described as an informal and amicable discussion.
Johnston takes blame for Labor's disastrous election
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The outgoing Secretary of the West Australian Labor Party, Bill Johnston, has accepted responsibility for the heavy losses the party suffered in Saturday's election.
Election outcome may remain unclear for another week
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The Nationals Leader, Brendon Grylls, says an announcement on which party he will help form government in Western Australia could be delayed beyond Sunday.
WA's election result still up in the air
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It is still not known which party will form government in Western Australia, three days after the election.
Defeated Durack won't join Carpenter criticism
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The defeated ALP candidate for Ocean Reef, Louise Durack says she does not share the view that Alan Carpenter must shoulder the blame for Labor's unsuccessful campaign.
Carpenter 'contemplated' alliance with Nationals
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The West Australian Premier Alan Carpenter says he has been contemplating an alliance with the Nationals since the beginning of the year.
Whitby doesn't believe he can win Morley for Labor
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The ALP candidate for Morley, Reece Whitby, says he feels despondant about his chances of winning the seat, which remains too close to call.
Barnett offers to make Grylls Deputy Premier
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The Liberal Leader, Colin Barnett, has offered the Nationals Leader, Brendon Grylls, the position of Deputy Premier as part of their negotiations today on forming an alliance.
Teachers want vote on pay deal delayed
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Teachers say the vote on their pay deal should be delayed until after the result of Saturday's election is known.
Electoral Commission: vote counts continues
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WA's Electoral Commissioner Warwick Gately says his officers are trying to get results for Wanneroo, Albany, Riverton, Forrestfield, Alfred Cove and Morley.
WA election deadlock: Barnett and Grylls in crucial talks
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The Liberal leader Colin Barnett is showing signs he may backflip on his earlier refusal to meet the WA Nationals demand for more money for the state's regions.
Election could revive Ord Stage 2
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There is renewed hope in the Kimberley that the state election result could revive the Ord Stage 2 development.
WA election 'a huge setback' for Labor: Tanner
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Federal Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner says Labor's loss in the Western Australia state election at the weekend will make Prime Minister Kevin Rudd cautious about calling an early election.
Counting resumes in the WA election today
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Counting is set to resume in the WA election today but it could still be several days before a result is known.
Nationals in WA box seat after voter backlash
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Western Australian Liberal leader Colin Barnett will meet Nationals leader Brendan Grylls this morning in the hope they can broker a deal to form government.
Labor and Nationals hold talks on forming government in WA
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A meeting has raised the prospect of a coalition between the Labor Party and the Nationals to form Government in Western Australia.
Grylls playing hard to get in WA power stakes
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Western Australian Nationals leader Brendon Grylls has emerged from a meeting with party strategists to announce he will not back down on hard ball negotiations to decide the next state government.
Voters give WA Greens record vote
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WA Greens MP Giz Watson says she is very pleased with the party's record success at the poll.
Kingmaker: Leaders jostle for National support
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Colin Barnett and Alan Carpenter will both need to win over WA Nationals leader Brendon Grylls if they hope to form a government.
Nationals to hold talks with Barnett today
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The Nationals leader Brendon Grylls says he will be speaking with the Liberal leader Colin Barnett today.
Rudd to blame for WA result: Hockey
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Senior federal Liberal Joe Hockey has laid the result of the Western Australian election squarely at the feet of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, but federal Labor has rejected the claim.
Voters unimpressed with Carpenter's candidates
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The Premier Alan Carpenter's move to install his preferred candidates in several seats has backfired.
Barnett won't budge on National's deal
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The Liberal Leader, Colin Barnett said he will not agree to the National Party's $700 million Royalties for Regions proposal, even though agreement could deliver him Government.
WA Nationals urged to retain independence
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The federal Nationals leader has played down the prospect of the WA Nationals forming a coalition with the Liberal Party in order to claim victory in the state's election.
WA on a knife edge
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Neither major party leader has claimed victory in a nail-biting Western Australian election, with Premier Alan Carpenter predicting a hung parliament.
Labor loses power in nail-biting WA vote
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The Labor Party has lost its outright majority in Western Australia, apparently breaking the party's hold on state, territory and federal governments around the country.
Labor in 'tight spot' in WA vote
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Foreign Minister Stephen Smith says Labor is in a tight spot as counting continues in the Western Australian election.
Labor's campaign 'worst ever'
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The former Labor MP Bob Pearce say he believes Labor will scrape home, but he has decribed the party's campaign as the worst he has ever seen.
Labor in trouble: Smith
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Federal Labor MP Stephen Smith said early counting shows Labor to be in a tight spot.
Counting shows a small swing to the Liberal Party.
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Initial counting in the WA state election is showing a slight swing away from Labor, although counting has only just begun.
WA Election: Counting underway
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Polling has closed in the West Australian State Election and counting has begun.
Cliffhanger predicted as WA counting underway
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Counting of votes is under way in the Western Australian election, after about 1.3 million people turned out to polling stations.
Polling closes in WA election
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Polling has closed in the Western Australian election, and analysts are expecting a tight result.
Leaders predict tight result in WA election
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Polling in the Western Australian election is drawing to a close, with party leaders saying they expect a tight result.
Leaders vote in WA state election
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Western Australia Premier Alan Carpenter has cast his vote in the state election and says the fate of his Government now rests with the public.
Eyes on key seats as WA votes
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Today's election in Western Australia is expected to go down to the wire, with the latest Newspoll showing equal support for Labor and Liberal.
Weekend elections may bring fresh blood to Parliament
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Three elections today could see significant changes to the political landscape at the state and federal level.
Latest WA polling predicts election cliffhanger
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The latest polling ahead of tomorrow's election in Western Australia literally has both major parties neck-and-neck.
Polling puts Liberals marginally ahead
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Internal polling by both major parties is believed to show the Liberal Party with leads in key marginal seats which could be enough to deliver it government at tomorrow's state election.
Barnett makes last pitch to voters
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The Opposition Leader Colin Barnett has made his final pitch for voter support ahead of tomorrow's state election by highlighting the Liberal party's policy differences to Labor.
Carpenter spends last day campaigning at school
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The Labor Leader, Alan Carpenter, has spent the morning of his last day of campaigning at a primary school in Perth's northern suburbs.
Election will go to the wire: Labor
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The Labor Leader, Alan Carpenter, and Liberal Leader, Colin Barnett, will try to reinforce their campaign messages during the final day of election campaigning today.
Omodei takes parting shot at Nationals
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The former Opposition Leader Paul Omodei has taken a parting shot at the National Party, saying it will not be able to win the balance of power in the Upper House.
Eucla residents voted out
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Residents of Eucla will not be able to vote at this weekend's State election.
Tafe lecturers call for pay rise
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The State School Teachers' Union says the Education Department is trying to drive Tafe lecturers out of the industry.
Labor's polling hasn't improved: Premier
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The Premier Alan Carpenter says he has been told Labor's internal polling has not improved since the party strategically leaked figures two days ago.
Liberals promise to clamp down on antisocial behaviour
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The Liberal Party has promised to introduce prohibited behaviour orders in elected to curb violence and antisocial behaviour.
Liberals promise more train station parking
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The Liberal Party has promised an extra $49 million for parking at Perth train stations.
Labor released polling to head off 'protest vote'
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The Premier, Alan Carpenter, has admitted the Labor Party released its internal polling because of concerns about a protest vote in Saturday's state election.
Perth to Bunbury Highway ahead of schedule
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The Perth to Bunbury Highway could be opened more than six months ahead of schedule.
Liberal candidate under investigation over donations
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The Liberal candidate for Wanneroo Paul Miles is being investigated for failing to properly disclose political donations he received during a local government election last year.
Claim and counter claim in CFMEU elections
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Nominations for the election to win control of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) close today amid legal challenges and complaints to the West Australian Electoral Commission.
Buswell releases Liberal costings
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The Shadow Treasurer Troy Buswell has released the Liberal Party's election costings, claiming their total promises amount to $1.8 billion.
Labor promises millions for environmental icons
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The Premier Alan Carpenter has pledged an extra $32 million over the next four years to protect what he is calling WA's environmental icons.
Election polling no stunt: Carpenter
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The Premier Alan Carpenter says the release of internal Labor Party polling yesterday which showed they could be heading for a defeat was no stunt.
Liberals promise to protect Royal Perth Hospital
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The West Australian Liberal Party has promised to introduce legislation to protect Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) if it win Saturday's state election .
Buswell will be treasurer if we win: Barnett
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The State Opposition Leader, Colin Barnett, has indicated that he would appoint Troy Buswell as Treasurer if he wins Saturday's election, but he will not give any guarantees.
Independent expected to poll well in Carine
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A former Liberal Party member turned Independent is expected to poll well against the endorsed Liberal candidate for the seat of Carine in Saturday's state election.
Buswell to reveal Liberal costings
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The Opposition Leader, Colin Barnett, will leave it to the Shadow Treasurer, Troy Buswell, to reveal the party's election costings today, ensuring there will be no repeat of his bungle two days before the last election.
WA students lagging behind: report
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The State Government says more needs to be done to lift the academic performance of West Australian students, especially in writing.
Labor's polling predicts election loss
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The WA Labor party has released internal polling which shows it is in danger of losing the election.
Birney: Liberal Party aided by 'The West'
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Former Liberal leader Matt Birney has thanked the West Australian Newspaper on a Perth radio station for helping the party's campaign .
Premier denies Labor fear campaign
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The Premier Alan Carpenter has denied suggestions Labor is running fear campaigns on uranium mining and genetically modified crops.
Former Labor leader dumped
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The former Deputy Premier and former leader of the Labor Party, Ian Taylor, says he is disappointed with the party's decision to dump him for endorsing the Independent candidate for Kalgoorlie, John Bowler.
Labor defends 'misleading' advertising
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The Premier, Alan Carpenter, has denied Labor is running scare campaigns on uranium mining and genetically modified (GM) crops.
MacTiernan attacks Libs on public transport
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The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Alannah MacTiernan, has attacked the Liberal Party's record on public transport.
Body needed to scrutinise election ads: Porter
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The Liberal Party says it will consider setting up an independent body to scrutinise election advertising if it wins the state election.
Nationals tight lipped on balance of power
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The Nationals Leader, Brendon Grylls, is refusing to say which political party he will support if the Nationals hold the balance of power after Saturday's state election.
Leaders target marginal seat of Albany
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The Liberal Leader Colin Barnett has defended his decision to visit the marginal seat of Albany just five days before the election.
No individual workplace agreements: Barnett
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The Opposition Leader Colin Barnett has ruled out bringing back individual workplace agreements if he wins the election.
Labor to cut public transport fares
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The Labor Party has promised cheaper public transport if it wins the state election.
Barnett unveils policies on mental health, rail
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The State Opposition leader, Colin Barnett, has started the last week of the election campaigning on mental health.
Opposition demands Premier sack Roberts
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The Opposition is demanding the Heritage Minister Michelle Roberts be sacked because of a breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
Oppositon demands Premier sack Roberts
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The Opposition is demanding the Heritage Minister Michelle Roberts be sacked because of a breach of the Ministerial Code of Conduct.
ALP launches election campaign in Perth
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The West Australian Premier Alan Carpenter has officially launched Labor's election campaign, focussing on public transport, just six days out from the poll.
Liberals wooing seniors in election bid
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The West Australian Liberal Party is trying to woo disaffected seniors with offers of a cash rebate and greater access to the seniors card.
Libs promise $50m for Kalgoorlie hospital
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The Opposition Leader Colin Barnett has pledged $50 million to upgrade Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital if the Liberals win government.
Michelle Roberts denies any wrongdoing over historic property
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The State Opposition has questioned why the Heritage Minister, Michelle Roberts, allowed a historic property she part owns to drop off the state's interim heritage list.
Liberals pressured about donations from tobacco companies
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The Liberal Party spokesman for Health, Kim Hames, has told a health forum he can not give a guarantee the party will no longer accept donations from tobacco companies.
Labor misleading public on gas plant: Barnett
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The West Australian Opposition Leader, Colin Barnett, has accused the Treasurer, Eric Ripper, of misleading the public over whether the state has lost a multi-billion dollar gas project in the Kimberley.
Greens expect to poll well
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The WA Greens expect to benefit significantly from the large number of disaffected voters when West Australians go to the polls on September 6.
Carpenter admits Buswell attack a mistake
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The Premier, Alan Carpenter, says a Labor Party website dedicated to the indiscretions of Troy Buswell should never have been created.
Labor promises more late night trains
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The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, Alannah MacTiernan, says the Labor Party will provide more late night train services if it is elected in just over a week.
Former Premier warns against negative election campaigns
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The former Premier Peter Dowding has warned both major parties against negative advertising after the Premier Alan Carpenter yesterday shut down a website which attacked the former Opposition Leader Troy Buswell .
Barnett tries to redefine election campaign
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The Opposition Leader Colin Barnett has sought to redefine the election campaign, saying it is all about truth.
Carpenter orders Buswell site closed
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The Labor Party has been accused of engaging in dirty tricks by launching a website which attacks former Opposition Leader Troy Buswell.
Labor should admit WA's lost Inpex gas plant: Barnett
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The Liberal Leader, Colin Barnett, says the Premier must come clean and tell voters Western Australia has lost a multi billion dollar gas project to the Northern Territory.
Senate inquiry into WA's gas explosion 'politically motivated'
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The Premier, Alan Carpenter, says the terms of reference for a Senate inquiry into Western Australia's gas crisis have been watered down, but he maintains the investigation is politically motivated.
Senate committee to investigate gas explosion
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A Senate Committee has agreed to hold a federal parliamentary inquiry into Western Australia's gas crisis, but it is unlikely it will start before the election.
Public school system accountable: McGowan
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Western Australia's Education Minister, Mark McGowan, says the public school system is already accountable.
Labor promises $1 million for local music
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The Labor Party says it will inject more than $1 million extra funding into the local contemporary music industry if it is elected next month.
Liberals crackdown on juvenile crime wins support
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A support group for the families of murder victims has welcomed a Liberal Party policy which would give courts more authority to try teenagers as adults.
Liberals accuse Labor of plagiarising school policy
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The Liberal Party has accused Labor of panicking and plagiarising its policies on new schools.
Liberals vow to overhaul juvenile justice
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The Liberal Party says its plan to overhaul the juvenile justice system will improve community safety.
Barnett ducks questions on Buswell's future
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The Liberal Leader, Colin Barnett, is refusing to say if he will make Troy Buswell his Treasurer, or include him in his Cabinet if he wins the election.
Labor unveils billion dollar school package
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The Premier Alan Carpenter has unveiled Labor's total spending commitment on schools over the next four years.
WA hamstrung by red tape and taxes: report
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A conservative think tank has called for tax cuts and privatisation of WA's public transport by whichever party wins the election.
Uranium ban could spark compensation claims: Liberals
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The State Opposition has warned that legislation to ban uranium mining in Western Australia could prompt a rush of law suits from the companies that own uranium mining leases.
Barnett promises modest tax cuts
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The West Australian Opposition Leader, Colin Barnett, has promised modest tax cuts if he wins the election.
WA has lost $20b gas plant: Barnett
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The Opposition Leader, Colin Barnett, is calling on the Treasurer, Eric Ripper, to come clean on whether Western Australia has lost the support of the Japanese company Inpex to build a liquefied natural gas plant in the Kimberley.
Premier promises laws to ban uranium mining
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The Premier, Alan Carpenter, has promised to legislate to ban uranium mining of if Labor is wins the election.
Business lobby wants major tax cuts
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Western Australia's business lobby is calling for substantial tax cuts in the lead up to the election.
Labor pledges to pay householders for solar power
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Labor says it will pay West Australians to generate solar power if it wins the election.
Liberals promise more money for troubled students
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The West Australian Liberal Party has promised to spend an extra $40 million over four years on behavioural management in public schools.
Leaders debate recorded for delayed telecast
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The leaders debate between the Premier, Alan Carpenter, and the Opposition leader, Colin Barnett, has been recorded and will be televised tonight.
Liberals making ground on Labor: bookmakers
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Bookmakers say the Liberal Party is starting to close the gap on Labor in the betting stakes for the West Australian election.
Welfare groups want $200 million
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A coalition of the state's leading welfare agencies has called on the major parties to commit $200 million to welfare services.
ALP to miss out on Greens preferences in Cockburn
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The member for Cockburn, Fran Logan says it is unfortunate the WA Greens have decided not to direct their preferences to him.
WA needs energy strategy: CCI
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The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has renewed its call for a state energy strategy as part of its election policy blueprint.
WA election campaign begins in earnest
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With the Olympic Games now over, the WA election campaign begins in earnest with the televised Leader's debate.
Libs launch election campaign
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The Western Australian Liberal Party has officially launched its election campaign.
More help for first homebuyers
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The State Government has announced an extra $70 million will be put into WA's shared equity home buyers scheme if it wins the election.