WA Election 2017

The Liberal Party has refused to adopt quotas to boost the number of female MPs in its ranks, but the handing of two blue-ribbon seats to male candidates over women proves the current system isn't working to boost the gender balance, writes Jessica Strutt.

Voters from east to west are unimpressed with the Liberal leadership spill, with some in the electorates belonging to key agitators saying they will support Labor at the next election.

The Prime Minister believes a deal to raise WA's share of the GST carve-up, which will deliver the state billions of dollars in extra revenue, has put to rest concerns the Coalition would be heavily punished in the west at the federal election.

Perth and Fremantle may be about to take out the dubious honour of recording the lowest voter turnout in an electorate since compulsory voting was introduced into Australia.

Labor easily holds on to Perth and Fremantle in the Super Saturday by-elections, with both winning candidates claiming the results should have the Turnbull Government worried.

By holding on to Longman and Braddon, Labor puts an end to the pressure on Bill Shorten's leadership and leaves big questions for the LNP and the Turnbull Government, writes Laura Tingle.

Bill Shorten hails a "Super Saturday night" for the ALP, as by-election wins in Braddon, Longman, Perth and Fremantle ease the pressure on his leadership and create doubts about the Coalition's chances of winning the next federal election.

Look back over our live coverage to see how Labor managed to retain the marginal seats of Braddon and Longman as well as two West Australian seats, while Centre Alliance's Rebekha Sharkie beat Georgina Downer to hold on to Mayo in South Australia.

Talking to voters it feels like election campaign promises — which have collectively added up to several hundred million dollars — barely rate a mention. People aren't even angry, just contemptuous of politics in general, whoever it is they are talking about, writes Laura Tingle.

Bill Shorten and Malcolm Turnbull both make last-gasp bids to sway voters on what has been called a Super Saturday of by-elections. The outcomes won't change who is in Government, but with a federal election just months away, the stakes are still high.

From the outset, the Liberals decided not to contest Perth or Fremantle, giving Labor a clear run to retain the two safely-held seats on Saturday. It is all part of a grander plan on which they remain focused, writes Jessica Strutt.

In case you missed all that campaigning, there are five federal by-elections happening this weekend, and a few reasons you might want to watch the result (even if you're not voting).

Simmering dissatisfaction in WA over the state's GST share is giving rise to a new political movement, which now has its sights set on the two upcoming federal by-elections.

The emphatic Liberal victory in the Darling Range by-election strengthens Mike Nahan's leadership, but the reasons behind it are complex and include voter dissatisfaction with cuts to services and the ramifications of the Barry Urban saga, writes Jessica Strutt.

The Darling Range by-election will be a key leadership test for both Mark McGowan and Mike Nahan, writes Jessica Strutt, but while Labor has put the Premier front and centre of its campaign, the Liberal leader has been reluctant to step into the spotlight.