Labor sees WA as a critically important state, highlighted by launching its here. 

“There is certainly some ground for Labor to be optimistic that WA could be a positive pivot in its favour,” Mr Baldino said. 

While the local minnows such as the United Australia Party, Socialist Alliance, Liberal Democrats and the Great Australian Party are likely to get some traction, the Greens look likely to be the biggest recipient of protest votes.

At Tuesday’s campaign forum Notre Dame politics lecturer Martin Drum pondered whether they might even make history by cracking 20 per cent of the primary vote for the first time federally in WA.

Mr Baldino said the shifting political landscape made it an opportunity for the minor parties to “get their ideas out there, providing genuine alternative options in a democracy”.