Warnbro

Margin: Labor 10.5%
Region: South Metropolitan
Federal: Brand

RESULTS AT 2013 ELECTION
HISTORICAL TWO-PARTY RESULTS
PREVIOUS ELECTION RESULTS MAP

Candidates in ballot paper order

ALEXANDER J SCHOLZ One Nation LUKE MUSCEDERE Liberal (centre) DEONNE KINGSFORD Australian Christians THOMAS HUNTER Julie Matheson for WA PAUL PAPALIA Labor (top) JILLIAN CAIN Greens (bottom) SAMANTHA FIGGINS Micro Business Party

The safe Labor seat of Warnbro covers the southernmost coastal territory of the Perth metropolitan area, from Warnbro itself through Port Kennedy, Secret Harbour and Golden Bay to Singleton. This area has developed rapidly over the past three decades, which is reflected in the redistribution by the loss of territory further inland at Baldivis, where 4000 voters are transferred to the new electorate of the same name.

Warnbro was created at the 2008 election in place of abolished Peel, which was held by Norm Marlborough from its creation in 1989 until 2007, when Corruption and Crime Commission phone taps revealing the extent of his dealings with Brian Burke caused him to resign. The resulting by-election gave the beleaguered Carpenter government what proved to be a misleadingly morale-boosting win, with Labor retaining the seat with a 1.0% swing in its favour.

Peel and then Warnrbo have since been held for Labor by Paul Papalia, a former counter-terrorism expert and decorated former navy diver who served in Iraq during the 2003 war, and as part of the United Nations weapons inspection regime in 1992 and 1993. He was elevated to the shadow ministry after the 2008 election defeat, variously holding the portfolios of local government, education and corrective services, with the latter supplemented by tourism and defence issues since 2013.

Papalia is a member of the Right faction, and his closely links with Mark McGowan and Ben Wyatt have been reflected in his career trajectory. He lost corrective services after backing Wyatt's abortive challenge to Eric Ripper's leadership in January 2011 while retaining local government, but was promoted to education and agriculture when Ripper made way for McGowan a year later, then reassigned after the 2013 election. Papalia was a particularly vocal critic of the abortive push to make Stephen Smith leader in March 2016.