WA election results: Liberals only just claim back prized Churchlands seat as Basil Zempilas secures place

High profile Liberal candidate Basil Zempilas’ lead was trimmed to just 376 votes but he has secured his place in Parliament, as preferences were distributed in Churchlands on Wednesday. With more than 90 per cent of the vote tallied in the western suburbs seat, a 2.2 per cent swing to the Liberal party was just enough to win the seat back from Labor’s Christine Tonkin. Ms Tonkin conceded late on Wednesday and thanked her supporters for ensuring it was a close call. “Churchlands is no longer a safe seat for anyone,” she said. “All my election commitments were contingent upon the Cook Labor Government being re-elected. So those commitments to our wonderful schools and community organisations will be funded. “For my part, I will continue to monitor their delivery.” There were still five seats undecided, as the WA Electoral Commission prepared to distribute preferences in the key regional seats of Albany and Warren-Blackwood on Thursday. Both are two-way battles between the Liberals and Nationals. Labor MP Ali Kent has stretched her lead to 422 votes in Kalgoorlie, while in Kalamunda the Liberal candidate Adam Hort is ahead by 83 votes. In Pilbara, less than 65 per cent of the vote has been counted.