What happened at the 2021 WA election?

Labor holds a commanding majority in the WA Legislative Assembly.

Cost-of-living pressures are front and centre

But despite earning a stable income, he says keeping up with rent is a struggle, and the Great Australian Dream of owning a home is slipping further out of reach.

Mark Marcelo, a fly-in-fly-out worker who lives in Perth, says despite earning a good salary he is still struggling with the rising cost of living. Source: SBS News / Christopher Tan

“There’s this misconception that FIFO workers are well off,” he said.

“Politicians need to listen … for many of us, things are only getting harder.”

What changed at the 2022 Federal Election in Western Australia

His frustration reflects the growing pressure on Western Australians, with rising costs now defining the political debate in this election.

While cost-of-living is a major concern, Curtin University political expert John Phillimore says it’s not just a WA issue — it’s a national problem, meaning voters may not be as critical of the state government over it.

WA Labor’s strong position — but without McGowan

Phillimore says the state’s strong economy has helped keep Roger Cook’s WA Labor government stable.

Under Mark McGowan, the party firmly positioned itself as pro-mining, ensuring minimal disruption to the state’s major industry.

The Rio Tinto West Angelas iron ore mine in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, a key site in the state’s multibillion-dollar iron ore industry. Source: AAP / ALAN PORRITT/AAPIMAGE

That stance has continued under Roger Cook, who successfully pressured Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to shelve his Nature Positive environmental reforms earlier this year.

With mining off the table as a battleground issue, the Liberals have instead shifted their focus to cost-of-living pressures as their main line of attack.

The Liberal party’s road to recovery

Now, under leader Libby Mettam, the Liberals are looking to regain lost ground.

Political analysts say the WA Liberals, under Libby Mettam, must reclaim at least 10 to 15 seats to be competitive in the 2029 election. Source: AAP / RICHARD WAINWRIGHT/AAPIMAGE

But they face a monumental challenge: to be competitive in the next election, they need to win back at least 15 seats.

But, Phillimore warns that longstanding tensions between the WA Liberals and Nationals could undermine their chances if policy clashes arise, especially as both parties vie to reclaim seats from Labor.

Why WA matters nationally

He says that WA Labor’s dominant position allows it to absorb some backlash against the Albanese government, and that protest votes against Labor in WA won’t necessarily lead to a federal Liberal resurgence.

The critical question remains whether a Liberal revival in WA could generate momentum for Peter Dutton’s federal campaign or if the state’s political landscape will continue to favour Labor.

The stakes on 8 March

With the Liberals needing a historic comeback, Labor seeking to maintain its dominance without McGowan, and national leaders watching closely, the WA election on 8 March could shape not just the state’s future — but the country’s.