'David and Goliath battle': leaders make final pitch

Yahoo

07-03-2025

The electoral combatants have sharpened their pitch to Western Australian voters in a state poll that most people predict is a forgone conclusion.
Labor is universally tipped to win a historic third term in Saturday's election after two landslide victories in 2017 and 2021.
But the Liberals are hoping the party can significantly erode the incumbent's 53 of 59 seat stranglehold on the WA lower house.
Two opinion polls published on Friday point to gains for the Liberals.
A Demos AU survey of 1126 people predicts a 57-43 two-party preferred vote, with a 13 per cent swing against Labor that could put up to 11 seats in reach of the Liberals.
Newspoll similarly predicts Liberal gains of up to 11 seats, with its polling showing a 57.5 to 42.5 two-party-preferred Labor lead from a 12.2 per cent swing, up from 56-44 a month ago.
Liberal leader Libby Mettam said Labor had taken Western Australians for granted and after eight years it was time for a change.
"If Labor are re-elected tomorrow, nothing will change," she told reporters on Friday at a polling station in Perth's northern suburbs.
Labor is taking Western Australians for granted. If Labor win on Saturday, nothing will change. After 8 years, Labor haven't delivered for you. Families are struggling under cost-of-living pressures, our health system is broken, homes are unaffordable and hard to find, and… pic.twitter.com/ALoMAZtnek
— Libby Mettam (@LibbyMettam) March 6, 2025
Ms Mettam said the health system was broken, housing was unaffordable and costs of living pressures and crime were out of control as she batted away questions about her predicted loss.
"We appreciate it's a David and Goliath battle, but we're listening to the people of Western Australia," she said.
"Only the WA Liberals have a plan and a team with experience, who have had real jobs, that are committed to fixing the priorities that Western Australians are talking about."
Asked about her leadership if the Liberals lost the poll, Ms Mettam said she was comfortable in her position and she was focused on winning the election.
Premier Roger Cook reminded voters about his party's Made In WA manufacturing strategy which has been its key pitch during the election.
"We'll bring manufacturing back to the heart of our economy. We'll locally manufacture our trains, our ferries, our busses, our batteries, wind turbines, poles and wires as part of our decarbonisation and clean energy transition," he said from a metal works business in Perth's north.
"Labor will keep the WA economy the strongest in the nation."
Mr Cook, who is yet to win an election as premier off his own back after replacing Mark McGowan who down in 2023, also leaned in on Labor's track record in government.
"In times of global uncertainty, WA needs experienced leadership. It needs a steady hand at the wheel and only WA Labor can provide that for the state," he said while flanked by Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti.
Asked about Friday's polls, Mr Cook said that Saturday's election was the only poll that counted but he was buoyed by the results.
"We're obviously pleased that our hard work is starting to be recognised, and if these polls are an indication of the outcome on Saturday, we'll be delighted. But we're not taking anything for granted," he said.
More than 450,000 of Western Australia's 1.86 million electors had cast their pre-poll ballots as of Thursday, according to the state electoral commission.