Sorry to get back to the Freo election (and away from teachers, artists etc) but I have been thinking about the last 3 fold flyer Zagami dropped in my area (East Fremantle), which is traditionally Liberal. Baisically the leaflets message placed more emphasis on “Don’t vote Labor” then “Vote Zagami”. I think that Zagami was more intent on making Fremantle a marginal seat then about getting votes for himself. I sopek to my neighbor who is also a Liberalvoter and he said that he was going to vote Green because he did not want to waist his vote on an independant who had no chance of winning. If this was what Zagami wanted to achieve it succeeded because the Greens piccked up about 2000 extra votes from a traditional Liberal area. Very clever campaigning.

Your analysis does not consider the ALP could get its act together. This is what they have done over the years and there is no doubt that once they focus themselves on winning then they will probably do it again.

Good candidates is always the sign post to a prosperaous political future. It’s hard to imagine Tagliaferri is the sort of candidate that would appeal to Labor supporters.

Also, the Libs will need to run a candidate in a full election just for the upper house considerations.

Greens could also cock up which is always a chance (Why should they be any different to any one else).

In answer to your second question, I would say the answer is no. WA keeps getting trials foisted upon it against the evident wishes of the majority because it is supported by powerful interests - who would prefer that it be imposed without a referendum, which governments feel unable to do for political reasons. There is no such powerful lobby calling for its abolition elsewhere. That said, I very much doubt that a referendum would fail outside of WA, Queensland and the Northern Territory.

And another: Given that the pro-daylight saving lobby has been given four referendums in WA, is there any hope that other states will get a referendum on whether they want to keep it?