Labor is now the favourite to win the next election in Western Australia, opening up a six-point lead over the Barnett government on two-party preferred terms, the latest Newspoll shows.

For the first time since Colin Barnett came to power in 2008, Labor is in an election-winning position with a primary vote of 42%, up from 33% six months ago, the poll published in the Australian reveals.

The ALP’s primary vote has not previously risen above 35% under Mark McGowan’s leadership.

The poll, conducted over the last three months, shows Labor holds a lead of 53% to 47% over the Barnett government on a two-party preferred basis. The survey also shows that McGowan remains preferred premier by a margin of 41% to 36%.

The next West Australian election is due in March next year.

Liberal MP Joe Francis said the government’s slip in the latest Newspoll is a wake-up call.





Francis told 6PR radio on Monday that he expected the polls to continue to fluctuate, but was taking note of the trend.

“I’ll take a look at it, but any politician that says they don’t look at them isn’t telling the truth. If that’s the case, it’s a bit of a wake-up call,” he said.









The survey also shows McGowan remains preferred premier by a margin of 41 per cent to 36 per cent.

However, the Labor leader’s popularity has dropped 2% since June, which political analyst Professor David Black said cast some doubt over McGowan’s leadership.

“The question for the election would be, as we get nearer to 2017, whether Mark McGowan is the person,” Black told AAP.

“There is no question that the government has all sorts of problems. The question is the capacity of the Labor party to capitalise on the situation and to emerge as the clear cut alternative.”



