Labor has strengthened its hold on the federal seats of Perth and Fremantle following the Super Saturday by-elections.
The decision of the Liberal party not to run in the two West Australian seats may have been a mistake, as Patrick Gorman and Josh Wilson cruised to easy victories.
Mr Wilson, who forced the by-election when he had to quit over dual citizenship issues, hoped to improve the 41 per cent primary vote he secured at the last federal election.
With a third of the vote counted, his primary vote was 52.6 per cent.
Many Liberal voters were forced to send their votes elsewhere.
"I sympathised with them, I pointed out the fact that I've been a very hard working local member in the past, that I've grown up in this community, that I haven't got horns, that maybe they need to make an exception and it will be our secret," he said on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, former Kevin Rudd staffer and Labor state secretary, replaced Tim Hammond - who quit parliament for family reasons - will take his own seat in Canberra.
He had to fend off 14 other candidates, but no Liberal candidate.
The Liberal party's decision caused some angst among members, especially as the margin for Perth was only four per cent.
Share
