WA Labor premier Roger Cook said his party had been rewarded for delivering a sensible and stable governmentEx-Tropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRoger Cook has declared he’s ready to get back to work after Western Australian Labor secured a third term with another massive victory.Labor was on track to win 41 seats, the Liberals five and the Nationals four late on Saturday night, according to ABC News.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading…WA Labor premier Roger Cook said his party had been rewarded for delivering a sensible and stable governmentEx-Tropical Cyclone Alfred LIVE: latest news and updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastRoger Cook has declared he’s ready to get back to work after Western Australian Labor secured a third term with another massive victory.Labor was on track to win 41 seats, the Liberals five and the Nationals four late on Saturday night, according to ABC News.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading…
Roger Cook has declared he’s ready to get back to work after Western Australian Labor secured a third term with another massive victory.
Labor was on track to win 41 seats, the Liberals five and the Nationals four late on Saturday night, according to ABC News.
It follows an unprecedented triumph in 2021 when Labor won 53 of 59 seats in the WA lower house, putting it in a nearly unbeatable position for Saturday’s poll.
Cook was jubilant as he declared victory, telling supporters the party had been rewarded for delivering a sensible and stable government.
“We relentlessly pursued the creation of jobs and the delivery of infrastructure and services that people need and at times of global uncertainty,” the premier said after arriving at a hall in his electorate of Kwinana to a rock star welcome.
“We are humble. We do not take that trust for granted. We will work to repay this trust every single day.”
Cook, who replaced former premier Mark McGowan midterm in 2023 when he stood down, said his team would be back at work on Sunday, “putting together a new government that builds upon everything that we have achieved together to date.”
Polls had predicted a 12-13% swing, putting up to 11 seats within reach of the Liberal party.
But the Liberals had garnered a swing of about 11% late in the evening, failing to claw back the party’s previous strongholds as hoped.
Cook, who will now govern in his own right, said Labor wanted to make sure it got as big a mandate as it could.
“We’re pleased that the people of Western Australia have put their trust in us,” he said as the tally board pushed the number of seats Labor had potentially won past its emphatic 2017 victory when it secured 41 lower house seats.
The Liberals won 13 and the Nationals five in that poll.
The WA Liberal leader, Libby Mettam, said the rebuild of the party would continue.
“Is this the result I hoped for? Of course not,” she said in her concession speech.
“Is this what we have been working for? Absolutely not, and what we will take from tonight is lessons on how we can do better.”
The poor Liberal showing leaves Mettam’s leadership in doubt after high-profile Perth media personality and the city’s former lord mayor, Basil Zempilas, who is viewed as a future leader by many, edged closer to securing the seat of Churchlands.
“I would accept any position but, look, ultimately it will be up to my colleagues,” Mettam said ahead of conceding.