WA Labor holds on for byelection win despite massive swing

The West Australian Labor Party has held on to win a Perth byelection sparked by the resignation of popular premier Mark McGowan despite absorbing a 30 per cent hit to its primary vote.

In the first electoral test for new Premier Roger Cook since Mr McGowan’s shock exit in May, Labor retained the southern Perth seat of Rockingham on a margin of about 15 per cent, with a 49.4 per cent primary vote.