In the last days of the campaign, Liberal cabinet ministers in normally safe seats have been out door-knocking for the first time in a decade. The Premier and other senior Liberals have been pleading with voters planning to give their first preference to minor parties and Independents to then allocate their second preference to the Coalition to prevent a Labor win. Having refused to do a preference deal with One Nation, the Liberal Party is now trying to appeal directly for the second preferences of One Nation voters. One Nation is threatening to direct preferences against all sitting members. With the Coalition having more marginal seats, and One Nation polling better in safe Liberal and National seats, this tactic could cause havoc.
Labor also appears to be trying to hide a growing confidence.
No Labor insider is yet prepared to suggest victory is a possibility, but many can't help but exude anticipation of the results. Dr Gallop has switched his evening speech from a quiet function to a rowdy reception with the party faithful in Fremantle. Reading Federal implications into the result tonight is difficult. There are few marginal seats in Western Australia and, apart from the notable exception of petrol prices, State issues have dominated the campaign. Most eyes in Canberra have been turned north to the battle next weekend in Queensland, a State in which the Coalition holds five Federal electorates on margins of less than 1per cent.