Calla Wahlquist reports in The Guardian (11.3.17) on the Western Australian state election, with election-eve polls pointing to a probable defeat for the Barnett coalition government.
‘Western Australia is expected to vote for a change of government on Saturday, and polls are predicting an 11% swing towards Labor.
‘The WA Labor leader, Mark McGowan, campaigned with the former federal opposition leader Kim Beazley on Friday afternoon, telling reporters that securing the 10 seats necessary to win the election would be “like climbing Mount Everest”.
‘… The WA premier, Colin Barnett, warned that under McGowan’s leadership Perth would once again become “Dullsville”, a name bestowed by the Lonely Planet travel guide in 2000 and which Barnett has referred to often to justify his decision to invest heavily in “showy” projects such as the Elizabeth Quay development and the new Perth Stadium.
‘… Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party is still expected to pick up between one and three upper house seats, despite continuing troubles with candidates unhappy about the preference deal struck with the Liberal party.’
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