Voters in Western Australia cast their ballots on Saturday in a crucial state election, setting the tone for the upcoming national vote expected by mid-May. The contest is seen as a test for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as the opposition Liberal Party seeks to challenge Labor’s dominance.
Labor, which secured a historic 53 out of 59 seats in the state’s lower house in 2021, also gained ground in the 2022 federal election, winning nine of Western Australia’s 15 electorates. Premier Roger Cook remains popular and is likely to secure a third term, while Liberal leader Libby Mettam aims to regain lost ground.
A Labor victory would provide much-needed momentum for Albanese, whose approval ratings have dipped despite policies aimed at easing cost-of-living pressures. Meanwhile, the latest Newspoll survey for The Australian shows the Liberal-National coalition leading Labor 51-49 on a two-party preferred basis, under Australia’s preferential voting system.
With the national election approaching, the Western Australia results could influence voter sentiment and shape the political landscape for Albanese’s re-election bid.