Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan says “there is nothing to fear” about a new State Parliament dominated by a single party following Labor’s historic victory on Saturday night, which decimated the Liberals.
Early results indicated Labor was on track to hold at least 52 of the Parliament’s 59 Lower House seats.
It is too early to know the exact makeup of the Upper House, with counting continuing.
But early results indicated Labor could be on track for the holy grail — a majority in both houses of Parliament.
This was the scenario Mr McGowan’s opponent Zak Kirkup — who lost his own seat, along with most other Liberals — had warned of.
Mr Kirkup’s entire strategy centred around warning against the prospect of Labor attaining “total control” of the WA parliament.
“I don’t know what the outcome will be in the Upper House at this point in time, I think it is pretty speculative,” Mr McGowan said on Sunday morning.
“People have seen — with me and my government — that we are very centrist, we are very ‘middle of the road’, we are very progressive, we are caring, but we are responsible.
“There is nothing to fear.”
‘You have got to appeal to everyone’
Mr McGowan said this centrist approach had helped him to achieve the historic victory.
“That is what you have got to do in political life, you have got to appeal to everyone,” he said.
“Over the last nine years I have been leader, that is the way I have oriented my leadership — that is the way I hope I have oriented the party.
“That is the future for Labor as a political party.
“I just want to continue the party in that direction. I would urge the party all over Australia to go in that direction.”
Mr McGowan said he would turn his attention to appointing a new Cabinet, but would not be drawn on who that might include, or who would take over as Treasurer.
“I will make sure I consult my colleagues, but I will have a major say,” he said.
Mr McGowan said his party would then get to work on its policy agenda.
Kirkup doubles down on concession
Mr Kirkup said he did not regret waving the white flag early in the election campaign, nor would he take back the Liberals’ controversial green energy jobs plan — decisions which attracted strong criticism from his colleagues.
“I wish that I had said earlier that Mark McGowan was going to be re-elected,” Mr Kirkup said.
“I think it is something I should have said at the very start, so that the whole campaign we could have pushed that message out more.
“It took an immense weight off my shoulders when I said to the people of Western Australia that Mark McGowan was going to be re-elected.”
Mr Kirkup said the Liberal and National parties should work closely together to hold Labor to account.
The 34-year-old also said he was heartbroken to lose the support of his electorate.
“This election is not an end but a beginning, and it is a fresh opportunity for the Liberal party to look at how we can re-build and how we can remain relevant in the community,” he said.
“I didn’t really have a Plan B. This was it. There was nothing that I thought about next for me, and now I will take stock and think about what that might mean.
“It is heartbreaking to lose the confidence of the people of Dawesville.”
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