WA election: Antony Green calls the WA state election 2021 for Labor

[WA election results graph]

Liberal leader Zak Kirkup has conceded defeat in Western Australia’s election, losing his own seat of Dawesville while declaring he takes full responsibility for the party’s election wipe-out.

In a devastating night for the Liberals, Mr Kirkup became the first WA major party leader to lose their own seat in 88 years.

At this stage, the WA Nationals will hold more seats in the next state parliament than the Liberal Party.

The Nationals will hold at least four seats in parliament, while the Liberals cannot exceed that number after losing a swathe of seats in metropolitan Perth.

Labor scored a fast and overwhelming election victory as Mark McGowan was returned as Premier for another four years.

Early figures showed massive swings towards Labor across the state.

Speaking less than half an hour after polls closed, the ABC’s chief election analyst Antony Green said given the Opposition would require a swing in its favour to win, it would not be able to win enough seats to form government.

It is too early to project a result in the state’s Upper House.

Loss ‘difficult to bear’: Kirkup

Speaking to party faithful in his electorate of Dawesville, Mr Kirkup said the Liberals must rebuild.

“Earlier this evening I spoke to the Premier and wished him well, and wished him all the best for his premiership over the next four years,” he said.

“The people of Western Australia have had their say and we must respect their choice.

“This is a historic election and one like no other. It is a loss that will be difficult to bear.”

Mr Kirkup said he would not continue in politics.

“What has happened with respect to Dawesville is devastating,” he said.

“I will no longer seek office for the Liberal Party. We must do all we can to help rebuild this party.

“It is a result that guts me.”

Mr Kirkup took on the Liberal leadership just 16 weeks ago.

As a teenager, he gave then-prime minister John Howard a business card that stated “Zak Kirkup – future Prime Minister”.

“This is a very difficult loss. It is one that I take full responsibility for,” he said during his concession speech.

“When I took on the leadership 16 weeks ago I did so knowing the risks.

“Over the next four years, with a very small number of members, we must do all that we can to hold Labor to account.

“The next four years will be the most difficult for the Liberal Party than we have ever experienced. It is a task that will be difficult, but not impossible.

“My message to all Liberals across the state is to please do all that you can to work with us now to make sure our party is as strong as it can be for the future of our state.”

Mr Kirkup wished the new Labor member for Dawesville Lisa Munday well.

‘Remarkable job’ by Labor leads to ‘disaster’ for the Liberals

Former Liberal leader Mike Nahan said Mark McGowan had done “a remarkable job”.

“This is a remarkable victory,” the retiring MP told the ABC.

“I would just say to my colleagues, learn from him.”

Dr Nahan described this election as a “disaster” for the Liberals.

“It’s a disaster for the Liberal Party — I can’t describe it any other way,” he said.

“I have been critical of the polls, but it looks like the polls have been right.”

Mr Kirkup held Dawesville by a wafer-thin margin of just 0.8 per cent.

In the lead-up to the election, he said he would give up politics if he lost Dawesville.

The Liberals have held Dawesville ever since its creation in 1996.

Labor how-to-vote cards in demand because they ‘had McGowan’s face on them’

The immediate-past Liberal leader, Liza Harvey, said the result reflected what voters had been telling her throughout the campaign.

“There certainly was a sentiment of people wanting to reward the Premier for how he has handled the pandemic,” Ms Harvey said.

“People were just picking up how-to-vote cards because they had his face on it.

“The reality is there was a groundswell of support for the Premier and that has been played out at the ballot box.”

Ms Harvey said she was disappointed and sad to lose her coastal seat of Scarborough.

“I’ve got the majority of my booth results back and it’s pretty clear I’ve lost the majority of my booths, so I’ve not been successful in contesting for the seat of Scarborough this time,” the former Liberal leader said.

“To my constituency, it’s been an absolute honour and a privilege to serve them for the last 12 years.

“I’m really proud of my achievements.”

McGowan government minister Michelle Roberts said voters did not respond well to Mr Kirkup conceding defeat two weeks ahead of the election.

“I had people say to me today, ‘why vote for the losers?'” she told the ABC.

“So Zak giving up early certainly had an impact during the campaign.

“I don’t think that was a smart decision.

“There were plenty of Liberal candidates who I think got very despondent because of that call by their leader.”