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WA election 2025 recap: Labor and Premier Roger Cook record resounding win in Western Australia

Natalie Richards and Troy de RuyterThe West Australian
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Roger Cook photographed during his victory speech.
Camera IconRoger Cook photographed during his victory speech. Credit: 7NEWS

WA Labor has won the State election.Recap all the day’s events by scrolling below.

That’s a wrap

Thanks for following. We’ll return tomorrow as the count continues.

Outer suburbs swing against Labor, but seats stay red

Now to three seats across Perth’s outer suburbs and fringes where sitting Labor MPs have been hit by big swings.

Darling Range

WA

Two Party Preferred

ALP Retain

55%

14,765

Two Party Preferred

12,046

45%

Image not available

Labor (Incumbent)

Hugh Jones

Liberals

Paul Mansfield

Image not available

View Electorates

First to Darling Range, which has for the first time since 2013 re-elected a candidate from the same party as the incumbent, with Hugh Jones returning.

But he was hit with a 16 per cent swing on primary, holding on over the Liberal Paul Mansfield with five per cent margin after preferences.

Dawesville

WA

Two Party Preferred

ALP Retain

51%

13,430

Two Party Preferred

12,761

49%

Image not available

Labor (Incumbent)

Lisa Munday

Liberals

Owen Mulder

Image not available

View Electorates

South of Mandurah in Dawesville, Labor MP Lisa Munday has defended her 2021 gain, beating out the Liberals’ Owen Mulder, but with a reduced margin.

Forrestfield

WA

Two Party Preferred

ALP Retain

54%

14,707

Two Party Preferred

12,479

46%

Image not available

Labor (Incumbent)

Stephen Price

Liberals

George Tilbury

Image not available

View Electorates

One of the Liberals’ long shots was Forrestfield, where former Police Union president George Tilbury was seeking to take on Labor’s Stephen Price has fallen short, but the incumbent hit with a 23 per cent swing on primary.

Price, who is likely to Speaker in the next term, is set to hold the seat with a redruce 5 per cent margin.

Roger Cook will ‘go down in Labor history’

“This is a historic win, it’s emphatic for Roger Cook,” Planning Minister John Carey said.

“He has done an incredible position as the Premier, he has incredible authority.

“He will go down in Labor history.”

Sandra Brewer elected as new Cottesloe MP

Cottesloe

WA

Two Party Preferred

LIB Retain

56%

16,019

Two Party Preferred

12,817

44%

Image not available

Liberals (Incumbent Party)

Sandra Brewer

Independent

Rachel Horncastle

Image not available

View Electorates

In the Liberals’ former sole suburban seat of Cottesloe, former Property Council boss Sandra Brewer has seen off a Teal-backed independent Rachel Horncastle, with a narrow two per cent buffer.

The WA Liberal Campaign launch with Libby Mettam at the Royale Theatre in Northbridge today. Sandra Brewer.
Camera IconThe WA Liberal Campaign launch with Libby Mettam at the Royale Theatre in Northbridge today. Sandra Brewer. Credit: The West Australian

Basil survives scare but admits ‘what we’re doing is not working’

Basil Zempilas was on tenterhooks for most of the night, but appeared set to survive a scare to launch his career in State Parliament.

He’s ahead with 46 per cent primary vote in Churchlands, ahead of labor mp Christine Tonkin on 28 per cent.

That should be enough to withstand the flow of preferences from the Greens and independent Lisa Thornton.

“I’m told that I’ve won,” Mr Zempilas said at 10pm.

“I knew it was going to be close, I knew it was going to be tight and if a $1 million smear campaign has no effect then what’s the point.

“I’ve withstood that and I’ve won the seat of Churchlands on a night when there was not a huge swing towards the Liberal party around the State.”

Basil Zempilas at 7NEWS’ headquarters on election night.
Camera IconBasil Zempilas at 7NEWS’ headquarters on election night. Credit: The West Australian

Mr Zempilas has been touted a future leader, with supporters even pushing him forward late last year and plunging Liberal leader Libby Mettam into crisis.

On Saturday night, he wasn’t prepared to put his hand up – yet – but declared the party does need to change direction.

“It would appear that we’re going to be in single digits at the end of this,” he said.

“That is not a result that anybody would have considered to have reached the mark that we’d anticipated.

“It’s very very clear that what we’re doing is not working. You cannot dispute that we have to do things differently. I’m still optimistic that what’s happened at this election is the start.”

Basil: ‘I think I am going to win’

“I think I am going to win Churchlands, that’s what my team are telling me,” he said.

“I think I will be successful in bringing Churchlands back to the Liberal party.”

Churchlands - Basil Zempilas to narrowly claim seat

Churchlands

WA

Two Party Preferred

LIB Gain

49%

13,635

Two Party Preferred

14,271

51%

Image not available

Labor (Incumbent)

Christine Tonkin

Liberals

Basil Zempilas

Image not available

View Electorates

To the most talked about race of the campaign in Churchlands, where Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas was attempting to beat Labor MP Christine Tonkin.

At points throughout the night, the count was tight for Mr Zempilas, who, at points looked, looked to be struggling after preferences to win the seat.

But a late run of postal and early votes has shifted the seat in his direction, with it looking like Mr Zempilas will be elected.

It’s likely the seat will be marginal for the new MP.

News. Politics. WA State Election 2025. Liberal candidate for Churchlands Basil Zempilas and wife Amy voting at Floreat Early Learning Polling Place. Jackson Flindell
Camera IconNews. Politics. WA State Election 2025. Liberal candidate for Churchlands Basil Zempilas and wife Amy voting at Floreat Early Learning Polling Place. Jackson Flindell Credit: Jackson Flindell / The West Aust

Changing hands - Carine

Carine

WA

Two Party Preferred

LIB Gain

42%

12,244

Two Party Preferred

16,608

58%

Image not available

Labor (Incumbent)

Paul Lilburne

Liberals

Liam Staltari

Image not available

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On a tough night for the Liberals, the pick ups have been few and far between. One victory has been in the northern suburbs seat of Carine, where former Young Liberal president Liam Staltari has beaten sitting Labor MP Paul Lilburne in the strongest result for the party.

Liam Staltari and Paul Lilburne.
Camera IconLiam Staltari and Paul Lilburne. Credit: Matt Jelonek

Seat to watch - Bateman

Slightly more progressed in its count is Bateman, with 65 per cent tallied up.

Bateman

WA

Two Party Preferred

ALP Retain

53%

14,700

Two Party Preferred

12,881

47%

Image not available

Labor (Incumbent)

Kim Giddens

Liberals

Nitin Vashisht

Image not available

View Electorates

Held by Labor’s Kim Gidden since 2021, the incumbent has a narrow lead over Liberal contender Nitin Vashisht, with a high Greens vote likely to see her elected for a second term,

State of play

As we pass 10pm, it’s worth taking a look at some of the closer races around the State, starting with Albany.

It should be noted the WAEC is copping a lot of flak from media, politicians and general observers for a glacial count, with some seats still waiting for the first wave of results.

Albany - held by Labor’s Rebecca Stephens - was an early battleground, with the Premier and minister flocking to the Great Southern seat in droves since January.

Albany

WA

Two Party Preferred

NAT Gain

44%

12,914

Two Party Preferred

16,615

56%

Image not available

Labor (Incumbent)

Rebecca Stephens

Nationals

Scott Leary

Image not available

View Electorates

At just 7.6 per cent of the vote counted, Ms Stephens was on a primary vote of 27 per cent, a 21 per cent swing against the Government MP.

But in second place is the Nationals’ Scott Leary - who failed to win Liberal preselection - on 22.3 per cent, while the Liberal candidate, Thomas Brough, was in third with 21.9 per cent of the vote.

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