http://www.abc.net.au/elections/wa/2008/calculator/?wa=-1.3&retiringfactor=1

Can you please put those Newspoll figures through Antony Greens’ Electoral Calculator ?

http://www.abc.net.au/elections/wa/2008/calculator/?wa=0&retiringfactor=1

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24188629-5013404,00.html

Pollster Keith Patterson said the two-party preferred statewide vote which polled another 400 voters would be reversed if the Liberals and Nationals agreed to a coalition.

But Mr Patterson said the disparity between those people saying they would vote Liberal but believing Labor would win the election should have conservatives supporters worried.

When asked who they thought would form the government after the election 64 per cent of those polled said Labor while only 23 per cent said Liberal with the help of the Nationals.

“I think the voter sentiment is they really want to prod Alan Carpenter to get his act together and create a decent government but they have no confidence in the ability of the Liberals to be able to do that either and I think the figures could move quite materially,” said Mr Patterson.

“I think if people see these figures and really believe that the Liberals could win they could move back to Labor. At this stage I think there’s a real sentiment out there that Alan Carpenter and Labor need to be taught a lesson.”

But Mr Patterson said to hold on to their lead the Liberals would have to convince people over the next three weeks that they have the team to be an effective government.

“And I think that’s a fairly significant challenge,” he said.

A Westpoll is out. Libs leading in four out of five marginals and one a dead heat.

Meh, only polled 400 voters in each seat, what’s the bet they picked the most liberal part of the seat to call

An extensive Westpoll of five key marginal seats shows that Colin Barnett's rejuvenated Liberal Party is capable of grabbing an unlikely election victory when the state votes in three weeks time.

The Liberals lead in four of the marginals polled and in the other one are in a deadheat with Labor.

http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=506582

Here are the last few paragraphs.

The current W.A. State Government has proven to be the most ignorant, arrogant and self-indulgent group of under-performers this State has ever seen in its history.
The jails must all be full because most people charged over the last few years are getting away with murder – literally! The elderly continue to be bashed, and robbed, and violated – and crime seems to go on unabated. It would seem there is no longer respect for the uniform of those who are there to protect us, and worse yet there seems to be little or no respect, and/or protection for them in our courts and legal systems. Our hospitals continue to be choking under immense and seemingly endless pressure, and our education system apparently is still under threat from a disgruntled Teaching fraternity.

And for all of that, the Carpenter Government wants us to give them another 4 Years in office.

The State Opposition by their own admission have been a shambles while all this has played out and been allowed to continue. Internal bickering and posturing,
the knives and hatchets have been savage and ruthless for some – and as a Party, they’ve lost a lot of respectability, experience and momentum as a result.

Forget the endless ‘Spin’ – we just continue to go around and around, and before you know it we are right back where we started quite some years ago – or often even worse.

This election is the most important election this State has ever faced, or will face for a long, long time. Financially the State has probably never been better off – but the culture that has been created is not only wrong, it’s out of control. For us all to live the lives that we aspire to live on the road ahead, the right decisions need to be made in this next term of Government. With some common logic and your endorsement, I believe I can create enough of a voice in Parliament to make the difference, and to help make it happen.

Vote 1 – Wayne Thompson (Independent) – Carine (North Metropolitan) State Election 2008

http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/08/07/day-1-of-the-wa-state-electionand-were-all-bored-already/#comment-496193

The State School Teachers’ Union has warned that any move to give principals the power to hire and fire staff would be met with great resistance from teachers.

The Opposition promised yesterday that if elected it would give greater responsibilities to principals and cut the level of centralised bureaucracy in the Education Department.

However, the President of the State School Teachers’ Union, Anne Gisborne, says the policy would make it more difficult for schools in low socio-economic areas and less desirable locations to attract teachers.

“We have got issues with teacher shortages and the deployment of staffing being left at local decision making will only exacerbate problems,” she said.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/08/15/2336094.htm

The Liberal Party admitted all policies released prior to Colin Barnett becoming leader on August 6 had been removed at his instruction. Mr Barnett said he wanted to review all material.

And according to Inside Cover, the Education Policy released yesterday had on it’s front cover a picture of the Exclusive Guildford Grammer School – not a local Govt School.