WA news LIVE: WA Labor minister could be ousted by ‘teal’ independent
Counting continues this morning to determine the winners of nine WA seats which are still too close to call following Saturday’s state election.
The biggest upset is shaping up to be the seat of Fremantle, which could be won by independent Kate Hulett at the expense of sitting Labor member Simone McGurk, who, if ousted, would be the only minister to lose their seat after an emphatic Labor victory.
Teal candidate Kate Hulett on Saturday. Credit: Mark Naglazas
A Hulett victory would also make her the only independent in WA’s lower house, however, the seat will be recounted today, likely further delaying the outcome and the announcement of Labor’s new cabinet.
The ABC has the count at 49.4% McGurk, 50.6% Hulett, with 60 per cent of votes counted.
The count so far is; Labor: 41 seats, Liberals: 5 seats, Nationals: 4 seats.
According to the ABC election tracker, there are still nine seats in doubt. It looks likely the Liberals will win a further three seats in Albany, Kalamunda and Murray-Wellington and the nationals will win a fifth seat in Warren Blackwood.
South Perth, which many tipped would swing back to the Liberals, looks likely to be retained by Labor, along with Dawesville, Kalgoorlie and the Pilbara.
