Federal election 2025: Anthony Albanese believes in WA candidates to hold seats, possibly deliver him majority

Anthony Albanese has backed his WA candidates to hold on to their seats — and possibly once again deliver him a majority government in Canberra. With Labor wins in Hasluck, Swan, Pearce and Tangney in 2022 delivering Mr Albanese a majority government, the Prime Minister is banking on holding those seats if he is to replicate the success of three years ago. Speaking in Perth ahead of Sunday’s campaign launch, a confident Mr Albanese referred to his candidates as “guns”. “We have the right people candidates in the right seats,” he said. “The people who those four seats that we won are all absolutely outstanding. “Compare it with the other mob. They’ve got a candidate for the Senate here, who is connected up with illuminati rubbish.” Premier Roger Cook, standing side by side with Mr Albanese at a press conference at Elizabeth Quay to talk up the Metronet on the Swan ferry project, said the Federal Liberals had fallen into the same trap as their WA counterparts — picking the wrong people as candidates for elections. “They (Liberals) are a bunch of people who are riddled with division, with factional divide and pre-selecting people with extreme views — views that are out of step with mainstream WA and mainstream Australia,” Mr Cook said. Polling is showing Mr Albanese is poised to win a second term of government. But the Prime Minister says Labor “has a mountain to climb” to win this election. “We’re walking up. We are nowhere near there yet.” he said. “I take absolutely nothing for granted. “I am back in Perth. I launched my campaign here in 2022. “People said ‘why are you doing that’. I said ‘because I want to represent the whole country and WA is really important. “WA is not not just sill important. It is more important than ever, given the changes in the economy and the opportunity that is here today.” Federal Labor ministers started arriving in Perth on Saturday, to attend the campaign launch. Senior federal Labor ministers Don Farrell, Jason Clare and Mark Butler were at a barbecue event attended by Mr Albanese and his fiance Jodie Haydon in Winthrop later on Saturday to support Tangney sitting member Sam Lim. Mr Clare told The Sunday Times the next few days of the campaign was crucial, as start of early began in just over a week’s time. “It’s a very important moment for Australians to focus on the election. “It was the support of the great people of WA that helped us win the last election and WA will be just as important this year.”