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.

[lightningdance]

See all the Labor MP's stoically standing by Gillard, "she has my full support" didn't  we hear all this before the Rudd knifing? :^O

[lakeland27]

and before Teds knifing and turnbulls also. before hawke's.. before downers. before doyles, before isobel redmonds ..

[poddster]

Oile, you neglected to add who posted that comment 'elsewhere':^O

[ladydeburg]

To try to exonerate Federal Labor from the catasophe of Labor's loss in WA is like the "There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead".

Australians are waiting with baited breath to oust Labor from all positions of power, be it state or Federal.

I suppose the small bump in News Poll is heartening to Labor but that will evaporate as soon as Miss Gillard makes another mistake & we can bet on that happening as soon as she takes direction from her focus groups.

Governing just to try to cling onto power is a death sentence for any political party, all you have to reference is NSW Labor.