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AAP
AAP
Politics
Aaron Bunch

'Nerves high' as Labor closes in on state poll victory

Labor is expected to be returned in WA but the coalition may regain some seats lost in 2021. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

Premier Roger Cook is expected to lead Labor to victory at the WA election but that hasn't quelled his anxiety, as he argues it will be a tight contest.

Mr Cook said he was worried about all 53 of the 59 seats Labor holds in the lower house after an unprecedented landslide victory in 2021.

"The nerves are high. These are nerve-wracking times, but we're working hard," Mr Cook told reporters on Thursday.

"We've got to work hard right up until the six o'clock on Saturday night."

Experts say Labor will have a comfortable victory but its massive majority is likely to be slashed as the conservatives claim back seats lost in the last election when former premier Mark McGowan's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and WA's closed border policy left the Liberals and Nationals with just six seats.

Mr Cook batted away questions about the number of seats Labor could lose and whether he would win a personal mandate, having replaced Mr McGowan when he stood down mid-term in 2023.

Campaign posters for WA Premier, Roger Cook in Perth
Both parties are offering major spending on cost of living relief in WA. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

"I'm not focused on seats lost or won," he said.

"I don't have any expectations at all. My expectation is that this election will be a tight contest."

Asked if his leadership could be in jeopardy if Labor loses its whopping majority, Mr Cook said: "Everyone in the Labor caucus has to fight for their role, fight for their position ... this will be no different".

Mr Cook, flanked by Treasurer Rita Saffioti, spruiked their party's previously announced $1 billion cost-of-living relief.

This includes reduced public transport fares, home battery subsidies and payments to families with children in school.

The WA Liberal party released its independently verified election commitment costings, with a net debt impact of $3.45 billion expected over the forward estimates.

About a quarter of the money would be spent on the health system if the Liberals were elected, with about 40 per cent used for cost-of-living relief and housing.

A further 14 per cent would be used to boost the police force and crack down on crime.

Shadow treasurer Steve Martin
Shadow treasurer Steve Martin says the Liberals have listened to what Western Australians want. (Richard Wainwright/AAP PHOTOS)

"Getting those basics right should be non-negotiable in a state as wealthy as Western Australia," shadow treasurer Steve Martin said.

The National Party said its 43 key election commitments, including abolishing stamp duty for first-home buyers and delivering payroll tax relief for thousands of WA businesses, would cost $3.5 billion.

"The Nationals WA costings have been tested by Treasury and passed with flying colours," Opposition and party leader Shane Love said.

Mr Love attacked Labor after it released its commitment costing of $3.4 billion on Wednesday, claiming the figures were fudged and there was a more than $2 billion difference between its election promise announcements and the figures it submitted to the WA Treasury Department.

The Nationals are the official opposition party in WA after winning four seats to the Liberals' two seats in the last election. 

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