Colin Barnett wins re-election as blame turns on Gillard government

[lightningdance]

Colin Barnett wins re-election as blame turns on Gillard government

Liberal leader Colin Barnett claims victory in the West Australian election. Picture: Daniel Wilkins Source: The Sunday Times

COLIN Barnett has been swept back to power in Western Australia, as Labor figures blamed the unpopularity of the Gillard government for a slump in ALP support.

Labor leader Mark McGowan conceded defeat after a thumping swing to the Liberals and Nationals of up to 7 per cent sealed a second term for Mr Barnett and his coalition partners.

The result could give the Liberal-Nationals as many as 40 seats in WA's lower house, up from 29. Labor looks set to lose a third of its seats.

While Mr McGowan didn't say so, other Labor figures pointed the finger of blame for defeat at federal Labor, and former state Labor minister Alannah MacTiernan called for Julia Gillard to be dumped.

Claiming a "resounding victory", Mr Barnett congratulated Mr McGowan on his "energetic" campaign, despite the Liberal-Nationals achieving “what seems to be a comfortable result”.

 “We retained all of our seats won at the last election. We've also won a further seven seats with a few still up for grabs,” he told Liberal supporters at a Cottesloe golf club, to chants of "four more years".

Mr Barnett said it was clear that the unpopularity of federal Labor had helped his party.

“I think certainly Labor was on the nose to a lot of people - that was a factor,” he said.

[the_great_she_elephant]

But didn't you do a sad face on the WA thread??? 

Do you think he is doing a good job? 

If not then (hence the sad face) do you think the people in your state got it wrong? 

And if they did get it wrong then was it the opposition that was so bad or an influence from the Federal Labor party??? 

I did a sad face, because I personally, would rather have had a Labor government in WA. there are a couple of things he has done as Premier that I strongly disagree with - the Elizabeth Quay development, and the billion dollar arena at Burswood. I also really liked Mark McGowans Metronet concept.

Having, said that however, I am not - like some posters here - one-eyed and vitriolic tgo the point of hysteria. Colin Barnett has been, on the whole, a good and fair premier, the Liberal party conducted their campaign intelligently and without resorting to mudslinging and personal vendettas, we have a strong economy, a low unemployment rate, and I don't for one moment imagine the sky is going to fall on my head because I didn't get the result I wanted.

The reasons people voted the way they did can best be summed up in three cliches:  'if it ain't broke don't fix it'. 'lets not change horses in midstream' and 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't. Mark McGowan is an unknown quantity, and Colin Barnett has not made any big enough stuff-ups to turn people against him en masse.

It is also worth noting that in WA although our one and only daily newspaper has had a marked pro State  Labor bias, during this election campaign, it does not indulge in the histrionics and scare mongering of so much of the Eastern States press.  

[mtnlane]

I do not normally post in political threads here but am making an exception this time as a sandgroper :^O

It would be folly to believe that the opinion of many West Australians of the Federal Government had no impact on the state results. Generally parochial, many object to the impact the Federal Government has had on border issues, distribution of GST and imposition of mining taxes. Even Steven Smith recognised this. 

McGowan ran a good campaign and his metronet was attractive to many (even if his plan did not get travellers to the current airport terminal and his costings were inaccurate) but he ran out of steam towards the end of the campaign and could not fight the fact that Barnett has proved to be a strong and decisive Premier.  This coupled with the fact that it is rare to toss out a government after it's first term caused them to 'play the man' which is generally an anathema to sandgropers.

Grylls took a huge risk and it paid off for him - glad to see that the Nats and the Libs will continue to work closely together although with the ability of the Libs to govern  in their own right might reduce the Nats bargaining power.  I do hope not and believe that Barnett is a man of his word but with a larger backbench, control might be a little more difficult to achieve.

Time will tell but it is great to see decisions being made and action finally being taken.

[catsnknots]

Thanks TGSE... that makes sense... 

[j*oono]

So take that Lightening :^O

[the_great_she_elephant]

My post #6 was never intended as a rebuke to you, Cat. Your post #5 was pretty much spot on.

[catsnknots]

My post #6 was never intended as a rebuke to you, Cat. Your post #5 was pretty much spot on.

thanks... I didn't think so... but thanks for clarifying. 

[mtnlane]

I love WA,  

As I do 🙂

Whilst I am always referred to jokingly as a t'othersider, I would never live anywhere else now.

The best move I ever made!  Generalising, I do love the sense of freedom and willingness to stand up and be counted here with little fear or favour.

John Forrest did well to hold out on Federation in the beginning :^O

The secessionist movement is alive and well 😉

[lakeland27]

The secessionist movement is alive and well

we dare you to try 🙂

[the_great_she_elephant]

The secessionist movement is alive and well

we dare you to try 🙂

Don't be such a spoilsport LL. We could have our very own Royal Family - I'm sure the Rhineharts could give the Windsors a good run for their money.

[mtnlane]

We just need to raise the 'rabbity' and damn those pesky Wright Brothers:^O