Farrer claims seat victory

Labor candidate for the Kimberley Josie Farrer has claimed victory for the hotly contested seat,which has been on a razor’s edge since counting started on Saturday.

The result will not be known until tomorrow at the earliest.

Labor insiders believe uncounted votes from remote communities including Mowanjum, Bayulu, Wangkatjungka, Looma and Bidyadanga will pull the Halls Creek mother-of-13 over the line.

They are also confident the party could increase its 6.8 per cent margin if it turns into a two-way battle with the Greens because of the way preferences will flow.

Labor says Farrer votes from about 20 pre-poll remote booths were not factored into the WA Electoral Commission results by Monday.

“We polled very strongly in remote areas on polling day and in the pre-poll and expect those to deliver us a buffer in the primary vote,” a Labor source said.

Ms Farrer on Monday claimed victory.

“I am very happy with the support I have received across the Kimberley and towns in remote communities, and I am looking forward to getting on with the job as MP for the Kimberley,” she said.

The Greens claimed 38 per cent of the primary vote from polling stations in Broome — a result its candidate Chris Maher put down to sentiment against the proposed James Price Point gas hub, about 60km from the town.

“The result in Broome represents a fundamental rejection of the Barnett/Grylls vision to develop James Price Point into a gas hub,” he said.

“I am still confident we are still in the race.

“From my reading it is now between the Greens and Labor. We are waiting on one thousand postal votes and believe they are more likely to favour us than Labor.”

With 52.4 per cent of the vote counted before tallying was suspended on Saturday night, Liberals led in the Kimberley with 26.48 per cent followed by the Greens with 25.88 per cent.

Labor had 21.61 per cent of the vote and Liberal coalition partners the Nationals had 20.85 per cent. Premier Colin Barnett declined to comment on the Greens’ strong challenge because final votes were still being counted. The Broome Advertiser was on Saturday night banned from attending Liberal candidate Jenny Bloom’s party-faithful gathering at Roebuck Bay Hotel.

Ms Bloom has refused to comment until after the result is known. Liberal Party state director Ben Moreton said there was no obligation to invite media to a private function for volunteers.

Nationals hopeful Michelle Pucci said the result was too close to call.