Labor looks set to pull off another upset after its stunning landslide WA election win, with the career of former Nationals leader Terry Redman hanging by a thread in the seat of Warren-Blackwood.
Key points:
- Results remain in doubt in Warren-Blackwood, Churchlands and Nedlands
- The WA Liberals could still end up with just two Lower House MPs
- The Nationals and Liberals say it is too early to discuss an opposition alliance
ABC election analyst Antony Green said despite a strong start to the day for Mr Redman, pre-polling results had put the incumbent in danger of losing to Labor's Jane Kelsbie.
He now trails by more than 500 votes, with three-quarters of the ballots counted.
Mr Redman has been in Parliament since 2005 and was elected MP for the new Warren-Blackwood electorate at the 2013 election.
Loading...Labor has also firmed up its lead in the blue-ribbon Liberal seat of Nedlands, while neighbouring Churchlands is coming down to the wire.
"I think Churchlands will be the closest contest. The absents, which are yet to come, will favour Labor," Green said.
"[Incumbent] Sean L'Estrange's lead isn't big enough to hold on if there's a lot of absents."
'Uncharted waters' for Liberals: Libby Mettam
Acting WA Liberal leader, Vasse MP Libby Mettam, said the party was in uncharted waters.
"It's an extraordinary set of circumstances that we're seeing across the state, not only for the WA Liberal Party but also for what an opposition will look like," she said.
"I'm hopeful about Churchlands at this point in time, but we're yet to see what the final result will be.
"Every single member we can have as part of our team will be vitally important going forward."
If Mr L'Estrange retains Churchlands, he will join Ms Mettam and Cottesloe member David Honey as one of just three Lower House Liberal MPs.
Political commentator Peter Kennedy said the Liberals would need to fight hard to shore up support in their traditional heartlands for the next election.
"Losing Nedlands is an extraordinary blow to the Liberal Party," he said.
"The seat of Sir Charles Court, the seat of Richard Court, the jewel in the Liberal crown."
Ms Mettam said Nedlands should never have been at risk.
"It's extraordinary to see that result in Nedlands, particularly when we've seen so much of that community frustrated by the McGowan Labor government's new planning laws," she said.
Talks still to come on opposition alliance
Ms Mettam and Nationals leader Mia Davies said there was still too much uncertainty on final numbers to start making decisions on any alliance between the parties.
Both are still waiting on the outcome of some of the final contests, with seats like North West Central only being called for the Nationals' Vince Catania this morning.
"They're discussions for the coming days and weeks," Ms Davies said.
"There will be some mechanics of the Parliament that will be interesting to negotiate, in terms of how we manage portfolios, committee systems, but we'll find a way to do that.
"I've got every confidence we'll be able to do the job that's been handed to us as a result of Saturday's unprecedented election."
Ms Mettam said there was a clear public interest in making the opposition as strong as it could be.
"There are some conventions that have been followed in the past, but we really do need to see what the final outcome of party members will be," she said.
"There will need to be a discussion within each of our parties and between the leaders of the Liberal and National parties."