Australian Prime Minister Seeks Postponement of Vote Due to Declining Labor Support
Roger Cook is seeking legal advice to determine if he can change the date of the state election to avoid a potential clash with the federal poll.
Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, who heads the State’s Labor government, plans to seek legal counsel on rescheduling the state election set for March 8 to prevent it from coinciding with a potential early federal election called by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Concerns have been raised that Cook may suffer at the polls due to declining support for Albanese and the federal Labor government if the state election comes first.
Recent polls show Prime Minister Albanese’s approval ratings hitting a new low, trailing behind Coalition Leader Peter Dutton.
The Coalition currently leads Labor in two-party-preferred polling, hinting at a potential minority Labor government if trends continue.
Cook’s ability to separate himself from Albanese hinges on his Liberal opponent Libby Mettam. The WA Electoral Act permits postponement under exceptional circumstances, subject to agreement between the Premier and State Opposition Leader.
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Furthermore, the WA Electoral Act prohibits a state election from coinciding with a federal election.
Labor Dominates in the West
The Labor party holds a significant majority in WA’s Legislative Assembly, with 53 seats compared to the Liberals’ three and the Nationals’ three. Some within Labor believe the Premier is overly cautious in seeking to reschedule the election.
Mettam hopes to capitalize on growing dissatisfaction in WA towards Albanese and his government to win back the four seats lost to Labor in 2022 under the leadership of Mark McGowan.
Political analysts suggest that these four contested seats could play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the federal election, intensifying the importance of both events for both political factions.
Coalition Leader Peter Dutton criticizes the idea of holding a federal election before March, questioning Albanese’s prior commitments and accusing him of secret discussions or deals with the WA premier.
If an early federal election necessitates the adjustment of the March state election date, Dutton asserts that the Prime Minister should provide a transparent explanation of the circumstances.
