How the Liberal Party lost its way in WA The party sinks to all-time low as recriminations begin and Labor moves deep into what was the conservative heartland. Premier-elect Mark McGowan and family in Rockingham on Sunday. Share The sea of red that swept across the bluest of Perth seats on Saturday left even the most staunch supporters of the McGowan government stunned. McGowan was always expected to win. But no one thought a seat like Nedlands, once held by Liberal royalty in Sir Charles Court and then his son Richard when he was premier, was really in danger. Now the local electorate of the nation’s richest person, Gina Rinehart, is in danger of falling into Labor hands with its candidate, social worker Dr Katrina Stratton, in just in front as counting continues.