The Liberals were expected to continue a decade-long dominance in the west with a win of at least 11 of 16 seats, despite a predicted swing to Labor.
As polling booths closed last night, Labor insiders were "confident" the party would gain the new seat of Burt, but conceded that Cowan would likely remain in Liberal hands.Margins in Liberal-held Hasluck (6 per cent), Swan (7.3 per cent), Pearce (9.3 per cent) and Moore (12.4 per cent) were expected to be slashed.