It is Australia's final political contest before Prime Minister Albanese calls a national election that is due by mid May.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor party has secured a morale-boosting victory in an election in the nation’s largest state, enhancing his chances of a come-from-behind win in a federal vote that must be held by May 17.

SYDNEY - The Labor party secured re-election in Western Australia on March 8 as the state’s voters backed the party in a final political contest before Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls a national election due by mid-May.

The opposition failed to substantially weaken ruling center-left Labor and put pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Polling booths have opened across Western Australia for the state election in what could be a crucial test for Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese’s federal election prospects.