The major parties in Western Australia have spent the past five weeks campaigning, each claiming they have the real solutions for households feeling the cost-of-living squeeze.
But with candidates making their final pitch as voters head to the polls today, is their messaging cutting through?
And can Labor hold on to the state following the mid-term retirement of former premier Mark McGowan in 2023?
Labor’s grip on WA: Strong but slipping?
Retired couple Bruce Kidd, 91, and Mercia, 85, have voted in the safe Labor seat of Morley for eight years — in other words, since Labor has held the reins of power in the state.
Back in 2017, McGowan led Labor to a landslide victory, flipping 41 of 59 seats and ending eight years of Liberal-National government.
Voters at the time were largely driven by concerns over state debt and public sector job cuts under then-premier Colin Barnett.
In 2021, McGowan repeated the landslide victory, securing 53 of 59 electorates.
Retired couple Bruce Kidd 91, and his wide Merca, 85, voted in the safe ALP seat of Morley on Saturday morning. Source: SBS News / Christopher Tan
Kidd says he has been generally happy with Labor’s leadership but said he was more of a fan of Premier Roger Cook’s predecessor.
“Roger Cook … I think he is alright, he’s a good boy. But, McGowan was my favourite and I think he turned the tide for Labor,” he said.
Now, Kidd says he is unconvinced by the major parties’ promises.
“They are going to be patch-ups for me,” he told SBS News.
His frustration is shared by Ron Goh, 60, who feels politicians of all stripes have fallen short.
“I don’t like any parties, but I just wish that whatever they say, they must do it,” Goh said.
“We vote them in to get the job done, not vote them to punish the people.”
Ron Goh, 60, cast his vote in the WA election this morning, saying he feels the major parties are falling short in addressing voters’ needs. Source: SBS News / Christopher Tan
Their sentiments reflect a broader cooling of voter enthusiasm for Labor, with recent polling showing satisfaction has softened.
A Newspoll of 1,061 people showed Labor ahead 57.5-42.5 — a slight increase from 56-44 four weeks ago.
However, Premier Roger Cook’s approval remains at 55 per cent, while his disapproval has crept up to 38 per cent.
Meanwhile, Liberal leader Libby Mettam is gaining ground, with her approval rising four points to 43 per cent.
A DemosAU poll for The West Australian newspaper, puts Labor’s two-party lead at 57-43 — a significant drop from their 69.7-30.3 landslide in 2021.
WA Premier Roger Cook’s Labor Party is projected to secure a strong majority, though not without losing several seats to the Liberals. Source: SBS News / Christopher Tan
Just 49 per cent of voters believe the state is heading in the right direction, while 31 per cent disagree.
With Cook’s lead over Mettam as preferred premier shrinking to 47-32, there may be wavering confidence in Labor’s leadership.
What Matters Most to WA Voters? Jobs, cost-of-living, and a search for alternatives
As Western Australians cast their votes, many are prioritising issues that directly impact their daily lives — job security, education, the housing crisis, and the rising cost of living.
Paul Szalla, 43, says job security key factor in his decision.
“As a person in the construction industry, I want to know where the next jobs are, and I believe Labor has a good list of things (projects) we want to do,” he said.
While confident in his vote, he noted that the choices felt limited.
Paul Szalla, 43, cites job security in the construction industry as a key factor in his decision, expressing confidence in Labor’s project plans, though noting limited options beyond Labor and the Nationals. Source: SBS News / Christopher Tan
“There’s not much to choose from other than Labor and the Nationals, I think.”
For young families like Lauren and Kale Crafter, education and the cost of living are front of mind, along with the housing crisis and rising grocery prices.
Others, like Mary Kovacevich, are looking beyond traditional economic concerns.
“I think we’ve had a Labor government for a while, and I think they’ve done an okay job, but I think it’s time to start looking at what else affects the community,” she said.
“Things like the environment, how we treat animals. It’s not just key infrastructure — those are certainly important, but they’re not the only thing.”
Young couple Lauren and Kale Crafter after casting their ballot on Saturday morning in Perth. Source: SBS News / Christopher Tan
For some young voters, their choices are shaped by careful research and reflection.
Lehan Ackerman, 27, and Sarah Gill, 24, make a point of informing themselves before heading to the polls.
“We do a bit of research, and actually this time we found that ChatGPT was quite helpful in summarising some of the main policies, and then you just do a quick verification to make sure you agree with that,” Ackerman said.
They said that, like many so-called swing voters, they tend to shift between parties out of frustration rather than loyalty.
“We seem to do this thing where every four years we vote for the opposite party because we sort of think that things haven’t improved, so I won’t be surprised if the Liberals win this one for this state election.”
While polls suggest that’s unlikely, the election isn’t expected to be called until much later tonight.
