Labor retains government but is hit by swing in regions, with Geraldton one of its biggest casualties

Nationals’ challenger Kirrilee Warr has capped off a strong campaign with election victory, making Geraldton one of Labor’s biggest casualties in an otherwise convincing Statewide result. While Labor completed its goal of returning to government in 2025, there was a significant shift from the regions against it. While the party managed to keep the seats of Bunbury, Collie-Preston, and the Kimberley, first-term Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton was ousted from office. A 25.3 per cent swing from Labor showed a significant shift from a traditionally Labor-held seat, highlighting the attitude in the regions. Ms Warr, a Chapman Valley farmer, is set to become the next member for Geraldton, but is yet to officially declare the result, opting to wait for the WA Electoral Commission. “Serving this community is an incredible privilege, and I will always be grateful for the trust and support you have shown me,” she said. “I’m confident we will maintain our lead once preferences are fully distributed, and in time an official declaration will be favourable.” With 75 per cent of the votes counted, Ms Warr was ahead of Ms Dalton 63.6 per cent to 36.4 per cent on a two-party preferred basis. Speaking to media on Sunday, Ms Warr said it had been a strong campaign, and she was pleased to see the results trending positively. “We’ve always been running our own race here, and the data, and the numbers were coming through pretty strong,” she said. “I was more than happy to to see the polling booth close and then the count begin.” Ms Warr’s impending victory coincided with Nationals leader Shane Love taking the new Mid-West seat. With the party confident Upper House candidates Julie Freeman and Rob Horstman would also become MPs, Ms Warr said the strong representation from the region was positive. “It’s an incredible moment and in terms of the team we have here Shane, Rob, Julie and myself, it’s formidable,” she said. “It’s because we are speaking about the matters that matter most is community and and the communities abroad. “We’re very passionate about our regions and and I think the voters out there realise that, we’re a strong voice, and we will be making sure these next four years we keep this Labor Government to account and that we put Geraldton back on the map.” Ms Dalton, who was elected in 2021 as part of the McGowan government stampede that dominated the polls Statewide, conceded her race was done about 9pm on Saturday. Emotions filled the room and tears were flowing as she put on a brave face to address the crowd. “We’ve achieved everything that we said that we would do in the four years,” she said. “I’m bitterly disappointed, of course, that I’m not going to be able to keep on the trajectory that I started in 2021 because I had great plans for Geraldton. “But all I can say is, thank you to all my volunteers, and the people that have worked for us.” At the top of her list, Ms Dalton put the works at Geraldton Health Campus, saying in eight years only her advocacy got the redevelopment under way. “We’re going to build that bloody thing, but it was me who got it over the line,” she said. “I’m really, really proud through my advocacy, we’re going to have the radiation oncology unit and five more dialysis chairs in Geraldton, which is something that means the world to the people of Geraldton.” Ms Dalton thanked all of the volunteers, staff, and supporters for their efforts over the past four years, making special mention to Shelley Payne and Sandra Carr for their efforts. Ms Carr, who was set to be re-elected to the Legislative Council, said she had mixed feelings about her result given the result of her Lower House colleague. “It is bittersweet to be re-elected while my friend and colleague Lara Dalton is not,” she said. “I know how hard Lara worked over the past four years, and how much she has achieved and delivered for us. “She has much to be proud of and I am confident she will continue to contribute to our region going forward.”