The WA Liberals look set to become the state’s official opposition party once again, after claiming victory in a seventh seat, by less than 100 votes. 

Kalamunda, in Perth’s Hills, remained the only seat in doubt more than two weeks after the state election.

It had been held by retiring Labor MP Matthew Hughes on a 14.5 per cent margin — but Liberal candidate Adam Hort has secured a swing just big enough to bring the seat back into the Liberal fold.

The initial count handed Mr Hort the seat by just 83 votes, triggering an automatic recount, which Liberal sources have told the ABC  confirmed his victory.

Mr Hort described the count as a “rollercoaster”.

Liberal opposition restored

Without Kalamunda, the Liberals and Nationals had both secured six seats each, which would have left the parties to negotiate over who carried the official title of opposition leader.

For the last four years, that honour went to the Nationals because they won more seats in parliament in the 2020 election.

That left Libby Mettam using the title “Leader of the Non-Governmental Party”.

Because of that numbers game, Basil Zempilas — who is almost certain to become the Liberal Party leader after a meeting of MPs on Tuesday — viewed Kalamunda as “hugely important”.

So with the Liberals now holding seven seats to the Nationals six, they are all but certain to become the lead opposition party.

Nationals leader Shane Love acknowledged as much today, saying both parties now need to be focused on preparing for the 2029 election.

“I spoke to Mr Zempilas on the weekend … and that was a general conversation around the need for our parties to work collaboratively together,” he said.

“And to ensure that in 2029 the people of Western Australia have an understanding of what form a government, which is made up of Liberal and National members, would take.

“Obviously, we’ve had resource sharing between the parties over many parliaments and those discussions will be ongoing.

“We were very generous in the last session of parliament in giving more than the traditional share, which is based on Legislative Assembly seats held, and so I think that we would be looking to negotiate with the new leader of the Liberal Party.”

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