2013 Western Australian state election

2013 Western Australian state election
← 2008 9 March 2013 2017 →
All 59 seats in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
and all 36 members in the Western Australian Legislative Council
30 Assembly seats were needed for a majority
  First party Second party Third party
 
Leader Colin Barnett Mark McGowan Brendon Grylls
Party Liberal Labor National
Leader since 6 August 2008 (2008-08-06) 23 January 2012 (2012-01-23) 21 June 2005 (2005-06-21)
Leader's seat Cottesloe Rockingham Central Wheatbelt
(won Pilbara)
Last election 24 seats 28 seats 4 seats
Seats before 24 26 5
Seats won 31 21 7
Seat change Increase 7 Decrease 5 Increase 2
First preference vote 557,903 392,448 71,694
Percentage 47.10% 33.13% 6.05%
Swing Increase 8.71 Decrease 2.70 Increase 1.18
TPP 57.29% 42.71%
TPP swing Increase 5.44 Decrease 5.44
The map on the left shows the first party preference by electorate. The map on the right shows the final two-party preferred vote result by electorate.
Premier before election

Colin Barnett
Liberal

Elected Premier

Colin Barnett
Liberal

The 2013 Western Australian state election was held on Saturday 9 March 2013 to elect 59 members to the Legislative Assembly and 36 members to the Legislative Council.

The incumbent Liberal–National Coalition government, led by Premier Colin Barnett, won a second consecutive four-year term in government, defeating the Labor Party, led by Opposition Leader Mark McGowan, in a landslide.[1][2][3][4] The Liberals alone won a majority of seats in the Legislative Assembly for the first time since the election of 1996, retaining government with 31 seats. Labor won 21 seats and the Nationals won 7 seats. In the Legislative Council, the Liberals won 17 of the 36 seats.

Results

Legislative Assembly

See also: Results of the Western Australian state election, 2013 (Legislative Assembly)
Winning party by electorate.

Western Australian state election, 9 March 2013[5]
Legislative Assembly
<< 2008–2017 >>

Enrolled voters 1,412,533
Votes cast 1,260,089 Turnout 89.21% +2.73%
Informal votes 75,657 Informal 6.00% +0.68%
Summary of votes by party
Party Primary votes % Swing Seats Change
  Liberal 557,903 47.10 +8.71 31 +7
  Labor 392,448 33.13 –2.70 21 –7
  Greens 99,431 8.39 –3.52 0 ±0
  National 71,694 6.05 +1.18 7 +3
  Christians 21,451 1.81 –0.77 0 ±0
  Family First 7,039 0.59 –1.35 0 ±0
  Independents 34,466 2.91 –1.44 0 –3
Total 1,184,432     59  
Two-party-preferred
  Liberal 678,231 57.29% +5.44%
  Labor 505,650 42.71% –5.44%

Legislative Council

Legislative Council results per region in the 2013 state general election
See also: Results of the Western Australian state election, 2013 (Legislative Council)

Western Australian state election, 9 March 2013
Legislative Council

Enrolled voters 1,412,533
Votes cast 1,260,929 Turnout 89.27% +2.72%
Informal votes 35,706 Informal 2.83% +0.00%
Summary of votes by party
Party Primary votes % Swing Seats Change
  Liberal 583,500 47.62 +8.02 17 +1
  Labor 398,260 32.51 –3.63 11 ± 0
  Greens 100,624 8.21 –2.87 2 –2
  National 59,804 4.88 –0.44 5 ± 0
  Christians 23,877 1.95 –0.37 0 ± 0
  Shooters and Fishers 21,765 1.78 +1.78 1 +1
  Family First 16,760 1.37 –1.15 0 ± 0
  Independent 20,633 1.68 +0.21 0 ± 0
Total 1,225,223     36  

Summary of Assembly results

Popular vote
Liberal
 
 47.10%
Labor
 
 33.13%
Greens
 
 8.40%
National
 
 6.05%
Others
 
 5.32%
% of the seats won
Liberal
 
 52.54%
Labor
 
 35.59%
National
 
 11.86%

Seats changing parties

Seat Pre-2013
Swing
 Post-2013
Party Member Margin Margin Member Party
Alfred Cove   Independent Liberal Janet Woollard 0.2* N/A 23.6** Dean Nalder Liberal  
Balcatta   Labor John Kobelke 2.2 9.5 7.3 Chris Hatton Liberal  
Belmont   Labor Eric Ripper 6.7 7.6 0.9 Glenys Godfrey Liberal  
Churchlands   Independent Liz Constable 23.5** N/A 20.2** Sean L'Estrange Liberal  
Forrestfield   Labor Andrew Waddell 0.2 2.3 2.1 Nathan Morton Liberal  
Fremantle   Independent Adele Carles 4.0** N/A 7.9* Simone McGurk Labor  
Joondalup   Labor Tony O'Gorman 3.3 7.8 4.5 Jan Norberger Liberal  
Kalgoorlie   Independent John Bowler 3.6*** N/A 6.3* Wendy Duncan National  
Morley   Labor notional 0.8 5.5 4.7 Ian Britza Liberal  
Perth   Labor John Hyde 7.7 10.3 2.6 Eleni Evangel Liberal  
Pilbara   Labor Tom Stephens 7.2 18.7 11.5 Brendon Grylls National  
  • Members listed in italics did not contest their seat at this election.
  • * figure is vs. Liberal
  • ** figure is vs. Labor
  • *** figure is vs. National

Background

At previous elections, the government was able to choose the date of an election, but on 3 November 2011, the government introduced fixed four-year terms, with elections being held every four years on the second Saturday in March.[6][7] This was the first election under the new system.

Key dates

  • Issue of writ: 6 February[8]
  • Nominations open: 7 February
  • Close of party nominations: 12 noon, 14 February
  • Close of rolls: 6 pm, 14 February
  • Close of independent nominations: 12 noon, 15 February
  • Postal voting commences: ?
  • Pre-poll voting commences: 20 February
  • Polling day: 9 March
  • Return of writ: On or before 6 May

Seats held

Lower house

At the 2008 election, Labor won 28 seats, the Liberals won 24 seats, the Nationals won four seats, with three seats won by independents. Three changes have occurred since; the Greens won the seat of Fremantle off Labor at the 2009 by-election, Vince Catania in the seat of North West defected from Labor to the Nationals in July 2009,[9] and Fremantle MP Adele Carles resigned from the Greens in 2010, leaving Labor with 26 seats, the Liberals with 24 seats, the Nationals with five seats, while independents hold four seats.

Boundary changes took effect at this election. The only changes to the notional 2008 results were that the seat of Morley shifted from Liberal to Labor[10] and the seat of North West (renamed North West Central) shifted from Labor to National.[11]

Upper house

At the 2008 election, the Liberals won 16 seats, Labor won 11 seats, the Nationals won five seats, and the Greens won four seats.

Retiring MPs

Labor

Liberal

National

Independent

2008 pendulum

The following Mackerras pendulum works by lining up all of the seats according to the percentage point margin post-election on a two-candidate-preferred basis.

Liberal/National seats
Marginal
North West Vince Catania NAT −3.1 pp1
Riverton Mike Nahan LIB 0.2 pp
Wanneroo Paul Miles LIB 0.7 pp
Morley Ian Britza LIB 0.9 pp
Southern River Peter Abetz LIB 1.6 pp
Jandakot Joe Francis LIB 1.8 pp
Mount Lawley Michael Sutherland LIB 2.2 pp
Nedlands Bill Marmion LIB 2.5 pp v IND
Moore Grant Woodhams NAT 3.1 pp v LIB
Swan Hills Frank Alban LIB 3.5 pp
Eyre Graham Jacobs LIB 3.6 pp v NAT
Ocean Reef Albert Jacob LIB 4.4 pp
Kingsley Andrea Mitchell LIB 4.5 pp
Scarborough Liza Harvey LIB 5.2 pp
Darling Range Tony Simpson LIB 5.6 pp
Fairly safe
Kalamunda John Day LIB 6.3 pp
Murray-Wellington Murray Cowper LIB 8.4 pp
Geraldton Ian Blayney LIB 8.5 pp
Safe
Dawesville Kim Hames LIB 11.1 pp
Bateman Christian Porter LIB 11.4 pp
Hillarys Rob Johnson LIB 11.4 pp
Bunbury John Castrilli LIB 11.7 pp
Vasse Troy Buswell LIB 13.5 pp
South Perth John McGrath LIB 14.3 pp
Carine Tony Krsticevic LIB 14.5 pp
Blackwood-Stirling Terry Redman NAT 17.3 pp v LIB
Central Wheatbelt Brendon Grylls NAT 17.9 pp v LIB
Cottesloe Colin Barnett LIB 19.4 pp
Very safe
Wagin Terry Waldron NAT 27.1 pp v LIB
Independent seats
Alfred Cove Janet Woollard IND LIB 1.0 pp v LIB
Kalgoorlie John Bowler IND 3.6 pp v NAT
Fremantle Adele Carles IND 4.0 pp v ALP2
Churchlands Liz Constable IND 23.5 pp v ALP
Labor seats
Marginal
Albany Peter Watson ALP 0.2 pp
Forrestfield Andrew Waddell ALP 0.2 pp
Kwinana Roger Cook ALP 0.8 pp v IND
Collie-Preston Mick Murray ALP 1.0 pp
Balcatta John Kobelke ALP 2.3 pp
Joondalup Tony O'Gorman ALP 3.5 pp
Pilbara Tom Stephens ALP 3.6 pp
West Swan Rita Saffioti ALP 4.4 pp
Gosnells Chris Tallentire ALP 5.5 pp
Fairly safe
Belmont Eric Ripper ALP 6.7 pp
Kimberley Carol Martin ALP 6.8 pp
Perth John Hyde ALP 7.8 pp
Midland Michelle Roberts ALP 8.3 pp
Mindarie John Quigley ALP 8.5 pp
Cannington Bill Johnston ALP 9.0 pp
Maylands Lisa Baker ALP 9.0 pp
Victoria Park Ben Wyatt ALP 9.0 pp
Cockburn Fran Logan ALP 9.6 pp
Warnbro Paul Papalia ALP 9.7 pp
Safe
Bassendean Martin Whitely ALP 10.3 pp
Mandurah David Templeman ALP 10.5 pp
Rockingham Mark McGowan ALP 10.6 pp
Willagee Peter Tinley ALP 10.6 pp v GRN
Girrawheen Margaret Quirk ALP 11.5 pp
Nollamara Janine Freeman ALP 12.7 pp
Very safe
Armadale Tony Buti ALP 20.3 pp v CDP
1.^ Elected as Labor member, defected to the Nationals in July 2009, margin is ALP v NAT.
2.^ Elected as Green member, resigned from The Greens in May 2010.

Polling

Newspoll polling is conducted via random telephone number selection in city and country areas. Sampling sizes consist of around 1,100 electors. The declared margin of error is ±3 percent.

Voting intention

Graphical summary of opinion polls for voting intention.
Graphical summary of two-party-preferred opinion polls.
Legislative Assembly (lower house) polling
Primary vote TPP vote
Lib Nat ALP Gre Oth Lib/Nat ALP
2013 election 47.1% 6.1% 33.1% 8.4% 5.3% 57.3% 42.7%
4–7 Mar 2013 48% 6% 32% 8% 6% 59.5% 40.5%
3–7 Feb 2013 45% 6% 35% 8% 6% 57% 43%
Oct–Dec 2012 43% 6% 30% 12% 9% 58% 42%
Jul–Sep 2012 43% 5% 30% 12% 10% 57% 43%
Jan–Mar 2012 39% 6% 35% 11% 9% 53% 47%
Oct–Dec 2011 46% 4% 29% 12% 9% 59% 41%
Jul–Sep 2011 42% 6% 29% 13% 10% 57% 43%
Apr–Jun 2011 43% 6% 30% 12% 9% 57% 43%
Jan–Mar 2011 43% 6% 31% 13% 7% 57% 43%
Oct–Dec 2010 42% 7% 29% 13% 9% 58% 42%
Jul–Sep 2010 41% 6% 30% 14% 9% 57% 43%
Apr–Jun 2010 38% 6% 32% 16% 8% 54% 46%
Jan–Mar 2010 40% 5% 37% 11% 7% 53% 47%
Jan–Mar 2009 42% 5% 33% 13% 7% 55% 45%
2008 election 38.4% 4.9% 35.8% 11.9% 9.0% 51.9% 48.1%
2–4 Sep 2008 37% 6% 35% 12% 10% 50% 50%
Polling conducted by Newspoll and published in The Australian.

Preferred Premier

Graphical summary of approval rating opinion polls for preferred Premier.
Better Premier polling^
Liberal
Barnett 		Labor
McGowan
2013 election – –
4–7 Mar 2013 52% 31%
3–7 Feb 2013 44% 40%
Oct–Dec 2012 48% 29%
Jul–Sep 2012 45% 29%
Jan–Mar 2012 43% 30%
Oct–Dec 2011 59% 18%2
Jul–Sep 2011 56% 22%2
Apr–Jun 2011 58% 18%2
Jan–Mar 2011 56% 17%2
Oct–Dec 2010 60% 16%2
Jul–Sep 2010 61% 17%2
Apr–Jun 2010 60% 19%2
Jan–Mar 2010 58% 19%2
Jan–Mar 2009 60% 14%2
2008 election – –
2–4 Sep 2008 35% 48%1
Polling conducted by Newspoll
and published in The Australian.
^ Remainder were "uncommitted" to either leader.
1 Alan Carpenter.
2 Eric Ripper.

Approval ratings

Graphical summary of approval rating opinion polls for Colin Barnett.
Graphical summary of approval rating opinion polls for Labor leaders (Alan Carpenter, Eric Ripper and Mark McGowan).
Satisfaction polling^
Barnett McGowan
Satisfied Dissatisfied Satisfied Dissatisfied
2013 election – – – –
4–7 Mar 2013 51% 36% 49% 29%
3–7 Feb 2013 47% 42% 51% 26%
Oct–Dec 2012 49% 37% 44% 26%
Jul–Sep 2012 48% 37% 48% 23%
Jan–Mar 2012 51% 33% 43% 17%
Oct–Dec 2011 58% 28% 34%2 39%2
Jul–Sep 2011 51% 35% 34%2 43%2
Apr–Jun 2011 50% 37% 33%2 43%2
Jan–Mar 2011 54% 33% 31%2 44%2
Oct–Dec 2010 55% 35% 33%2 43%2
Jul–Sep 2010 56% 32% 34%2 42%2
Apr–Jun 2010 55% 33% 36%2 44%2
Jan–Mar 2010 51% 34% 33%2 43%2
Jan–Mar 2009 56% 23% 35%2 34%2
2008 election – – – –
2–4 Sep 2008 40% 43% 42%1 48%1
Polling conducted by Newspoll and published in The Australian.
^Remainder were "uncommitted" to either leader.
1 Alan Carpenter.
2 Eric Ripper.

Newspaper endorsements

Newspaper Endorsement
The Australian Liberal[22]
The Australian Financial Review Behind paywall[23]
The West Australian Liberal

See also

References

  1. ^ "How the West was won: Landslide for Liberals". ABC News. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2023 – via www.abc.net.au.
  2. ^ "Liberals elected in landslide victory". ABC News. 9 March 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2023 – via www.abc.net.au.
  3. ^ Staff Writer (11 March 2013). "WA's Liberal landslide good for miners". Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Landslide win for Liberals in Western Australia poll". RNZ. 10 March 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
  5. ^ "2013 State General Election Results". Western Australian Electoral Commission. 5 July 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2013.
  6. ^ "New laws fix state election dates". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 November 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  7. ^ Antony Green (8 February 2011). "Future election dates". Blogs.abc.net.au. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  8. ^ "Election Timeline". Western Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 27 March 2013.
  9. ^ "Catania quits Labor to join Nationals: ABC News 20 July 2009". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  10. ^ "Morley - 2013 Western Australian Election". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  11. ^ "North West Central - 2013 Western Australian Election". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 11 March 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d "Woodhams retiring from politics". Au.news.yahoo.com. 4 April 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  13. ^ Mills, Vanessa (15 November 2012). "Carol Martin farewells parliamentary life". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  14. ^ "Whitely bids for Senate in challenge to Bullock". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 23 July 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  15. ^ "Labor man slams Senate as 'unionists' retirement home'". The Australian. 30 July 2012.
  16. ^ "Labor puts pressure on older MPs to retire". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 January 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  17. ^ "MP Jon Ford to retire at next election". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Port Hedland Mayor to take on Grylls". Yahoo. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  19. ^ Courtney Trenwith (1 February 2012). "Father of WA Politics Norman Moore To Retire". Watoday.com.au. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  20. ^ "Kalgoorlie MP Bowler retires from politics". Au.news.yahoo.com. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  21. ^ "Retiring MP Constable not bitter about dumping". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
  22. ^ Tyldesley, Hazel (8 March 2013). "Tackling Canberra works for Barnett in the west". The Australian. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  23. ^ Tyldesley, Hazel. "The challenge for Liberal governments". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 9 March 2013.