WA's strong economy seals it for Barnett

PERTH'S tradies, contractors and the self-employed are pretty well off compared to workers on the east coast of Australia.

And therein lies the problem for West Australian Labor and the federal Labor party in an election year.

Labor branches in NSW and Victoria can rustle up the support of the unions, primarily in the manufacturing bases outside Sydney and Melbourne.

But WA's already small manufacturing sector is shrinking, and so is the party's traditional support base.

Many people in blue collar WA Labor seats don't really identify with the party anymore.

No more was that evident at this weekend's state election than in the seats of Midland and Balcatta where the Liberal party won convincingly.

Many tradespeople and contractors are essentially small business people looking for tax concessions, simpler operating conditions and a way to keep the money rolling in.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard knows this well.

That's why she stayed well away from WA Labor leader Mark McGowan's hard fought but futile campaign on public transport, health and education.

In the car-loving, privately health-insured suburbs of Perth, it was extremely hard for Mr McGowan to gain traction with anyone other than the true believers.

To the Liberal party's credit, it not only managed to maintain the support of the mining industry and small business, but a good number of mining workers now identify more strongly with the conservatives than Labor.

It's a funny place, WA.

While Victoria's economy is showing signs it could be in recession and jobs in NSW and Queensland are being lost at a rapid rate, things are still pretty good in the resources heartland.

Despite the massive debt the WA Liberals continue to rack up, people want to hear that the resources boom will continue indefinitely and that the state can still afford a flash new football stadium, airport train and a world class arena.

While Premier Colin Barnett annoyed some of his constituents with generous spending and projects like transforming the city's waterfront, it was not enough to alter the widespread belief that life is best in the west.

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McGowan gracious in WA election loss

IF he was listening to political commentators and polling before the election, WA Labor leader Mark McGowan knew defeat was coming but he handled the loss with optimism and grace.

The Opposition leader conceded defeat on Saturday night just three hours after polling closed in the state election.

In his speech, Mr McGowan said he was proud of the values that were reflected in the party's policies, which aimed to support West Australians in the regions as well as in the metropolitan suburbs.

"I think we did a good job," he said.

"We went out there and we were bold in what we stood for.

"I know that we need to provide those basic core services, those basic facilities where people live in an expanding, growing state like Western Australia, and that was the vision we took to the election.

"That was what we wanted to make sure people understood that we stood for and that we strived to achieve in the course of this campaign.

"All of those ideas are ideas that we will pursue into the future."

Labor had been courageous in putting out its ideas, he said.

"You may have heard of one of them, Metronet," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

"I'm proud of that plan."

WA Labor's election campaign revolved around Metronet but it was seen as an ambitious proposal and competed with the Liberal party's more piecemeal transport plans.

Mr McGowan said the premier was gracious during their "chat" on the phone.

It was a hard fought campaign and hard to win, but they did their best and WA Labor would come back stronger, he said.

Mr McGowan thanked his family for their support and joked that his daughter Amelia, who was already in bed, had been a star in the campaign and would be premier one day.

"She will be the first premier of Western Australia in ponytails I'm sure," he quipped.

The Labor leader also thanked his staff who he said made him "look good".

Earlier, deputy leader Roger Cook, who won his seat of Kwinana, admitted there had been some damage to the Labor brand from the federal government.

"To what extent that had a role to play in the state election is very difficult to say," he said.

Labor MP Paul Papalia, who won his seat of Warnbro, struggled to hide his disappointment, telling reporters that the Liberals were clearly struggling with a lack of talented leaders since they had to appoint controversial MP Troy Buswell as treasurer.

"What we're going to have is an even bigger pool of people who are incapable of performing at an appropriate level for the state," he said.

However, the result would suggest the public has no such problem with Mr Buswell or the Liberals.

As the crowd of about 100 Labor supporters drowned their sorrows in food and drinks, Mr McGowan took the time to thank people individually, maintaining an optimistic smile all the way.

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Barnett celebrates resounding WA poll win

TRIUMPHANT West Australian premier Colin Barnett says the Liberals' landlside state election victory was an endorsement of an ethical and principled government - and proved the Labor party was "on the nose" in Australia.

Mr Barnett's Liberal party annihilated their WA Labor opposition in a result that even surprised blue-blooded onlookers, with predictions of a Liberal/National alliance which could hold as many as 40 seats in the WA's Lower House on Monday.

Speaking to hundreds of delirious onlookers in his electorate of Cottesloe, who chanted "four more years" on his arrival, Mr Barnett said the result was "resounding".

"I think Labor is on the nose to a lot of people, and that was a factor," Mr Barnett said.

"I think the message, if there is one, is that you need to make decisions, for the good of the economy and the good of the people.

"Get the policy right, make the decisions - don't play politics."

After polling suggested a massive victory for the incumbent Liberals, the voters duly delivered, with huge swings away from Labor in dozens of seats.

The sight of Labor veteran and former minister Michelle Roberts battling to hold on to her seat in Midland was beyond the wildest dreams of even the most die-hard Liberal supporter.

The Liberals were also poised to claim the previous safe Labor seat of Perth, along with winning Joondalup, Forrestfield, Balcatta and Belmont from Labor.

Mr Barnett, who arrived at his celebration party minutes after WA Labor leader Mark McGowan conceded, said he had been called and congratulated by his Rockingham rival.

"Fundamentally there was not a mood for change," Mr Barnett said.

"Mr McGowan did run an energetic campaign, he gave people a choice on major issues and I genuinely congratulate him.

"It is not easy for an opposition ... but I think the last two weeks getting down to some personal issues, I think the perhaps took away some of his support."

The night was made even sweeter with the convincing win of Nationals leader Brendon Grylls in the Pilbara, who secured his own double figure swing.

Mr Barnett said he would govern alongside the Nationals, despite the Liberals winning an overall majority in their own right.

"We will govern in partnership with the National Party," Mr Barnett said.

"That was a remarkable result in the Pilbara, a gutsy move and congratulate Brendon for that.

"I would be hopeful the Liberals and Nationals would have the numbers (in the upper house) as well."

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Soccer verdict sparks unrest in Cairo

VIOLENCE has erupted in Egypt after a court confirmed 21 death sentences for a deadly soccer riot but exonerated 28 people.

A protester was killed on Saturday in fresh clashes with police in central Cairo. Huge flames rose above the main building of the Egyptian Football Association and a police officers' club in an affluent neighbourhood on an island in the Nile.

Fans of Al-Ahly football club, whose members were killed in the 2012 riot that claimed 74 lives, had warned police they would retaliate if defendants were exonerated.

The trial has been a ticking time bomb for Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, who is facing a revolt in Port Said, growing nationwide unrest and an unprecedented police strike.

The court handed 15-year sentences to the former head of police security, General Essam Samak, and to Brigadier General Mohammed Saad, who was responsible for the stadium gates, which were locked, when the riot broke out.

Seven other police defendants were acquitted.

During sentencing, the judge read out a string of names without explaining who they were, leading to much confusion.

"First we were happy when we heard the 21 death sentences. We were cheering and didn't hear the rest of the verdict," one football supporter in Cairo told AFP. "Then we were very angry."

In Port Said, hundreds of people prevented ferries from shuttling residents between the banks of the Suez Canal, in protest at the confirmation of the 21 death sentences against supporters of the local team.

Tension has been running particularly high in an already divided Egypt since January 26, when the court first issued the death sentences for the country's deadliest football disaster.

Dissent has even reached police ranks, with police officers refusing orders to deploy, saying they are ill-equipped to deal with violent protesters and were made to suffer the consequences of government mistakes.

In Port Said, the government has almost completely lost its grip on security.

Port Said police on Friday withdrew from their headquarters and handed responsibility for securing it to the military.

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World's best restaurant poisons diners

NOMA, the world's top-ranked restaurant, has offered to reimburse dozens of diners who suffered food poisoning.

Denmark's two-Michelin-star Noma restaurant said on Saturday that tests had shown the poisoning was caused by the stomach bug norovirus, which was brought in by a staff member.

Sixty-three customers fell ill over five days, health officials said on Friday.

Noma said customers could choose between a refund or a free meal, if they dared to return. A menu at Noma costs 1,500 kroner ($A250). Drinks are extra.

The restaurant has been ranked No. 1 in the world by Restaurant magazine for the past three years.

Inspectors from the Danish food ministry criticised the restaurant for not alerting authorities quickly enough and for failing to take adequate action after the worker fell ill.

Noma blamed a delay in disinfecting the restaurant's kitchen on internal communication problems.

Even when members of two separate dining parties complained by email, and one employee reported being ill after handling food, no measures were taken the next day.

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Labor federal support at 32%: poll

THE day after Labor's woes continued with a landslide loss in the West Australian election, a new poll shows the party's primary vote federally has dropped to 32 per cent.

The Galaxy Poll conducted for The Sunday Telegraph newspaper showed the government's support had dropped three points in the past month.

Asked who they'd vote for if a federal election were held today, 32 per cent of respondents opted for the Labor party, while 48 per cent chose the coalition.

Eleven per cent said they'd vote for the Greens and nine per cent chose another party or an independent.

On a two-party preferred basis, the coalition earned 55 per cent of the vote to the government's 45 per cent.

Given the choice between prime minister Julia Gillard, a new leader or former prime minister Kevin Rudd, 32 per cent believed Ms Gillard should remain PM, while 33 per cent wanted a fresh start.

Twenty six per cent favoured a Rudd return.

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WA election loss adds to Labor woes

FEDERAL Labor's woes played a significant role in tainting the party's West Australian election bid, helping to deliver a crushing defeat to state opposition leader Mark McGowan.

The polls had pointed to a landslide win on Saturday for the WA Liberals, but even Premier Colin Barnett, dubbed the Emperor for his decisive and autocratic approach, appeared taken aback by the magnitude of his sweeping victory.

The Liberals, who will once again form a coalition with the Nationals, kept all of the 24 seats they won at the 2008 election, secured a further seven seats and a few were still up for grabs, Mr Barnett said in his victory speech.

With three quarters of the vote counted late on Saturday night, the Liberals had enjoyed a swing of 8.5 per cent which could translate into many as 40 seats for the coalition to Labor's 19.

It was one of the state's - and perhaps the nation's - most swiftly called elections.

Also swift was a comment by deputy federal opposition leader Julie Bishop that the WA election results reflected poorly on Labor's brand.

So too was a brutally frank admission by defence minister Stephen Smith that federal Labor had not helped Mr McGowan, who, despite a strong campaign, could not achieve an extremely rare defeat of a first term government.

Mr Smith said Saturday's result in the west proved the Labor party had many issues to work on before the federal election on September 14.

"We've had a tough time federally - you don't need to be a rocket scientist to work that out - and there's no doubt we have been a drag on Mark and there's no doubt that we haven't been helpful," Mr Smith said.

"We have a range of tough political issues to work through between now and September.

"It will go down to the wire."

Mr Barnett said the resounding result was a combination of his good government and a distaste for Labor federally.

"I think Labor is on the nose to a lot of people, and that was a factor," Mr Barnett said.

"I think the message, if there is one, is that you need to make decisions, for the good of the economy and the good of the people."

The Liberals were poised to claim the previous safe Labor seat of Perth, along with winning Joondalup, Forrestfield, Balcatta and Belmont from Labor.

Deputy Opposition leader Roger Cook admitted there had been some damage from the federal government.

"To what extent it had a role to play in the state election is very difficult to say," he said.

Ms Bishop also said state Labor had put all of its eggs in one basket with its ambitious Metronet suburban rail plan, whereas the government ran local campaigns seat by seat.

But Mr McGowan said he was proud of the values that were reflected in his party's policies, which aimed to support West Australians in the regions as well as in the suburbs.

"I think we did a good job," he said.

"I know that we need to provide those basic core services, those basic facilities where people live in an expanding, growing state like Western Australia, and that was the vision we took to the election."

WA Treasurer Troy Buswell, who had been personally attacked by the Labor party in the last week of the campaign, said the tactic backfired.

"It's pretty un-Australian to play the man - I don't think West Australians have taken too kindly to that," Mr Buswell said.

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