Chaney is predicted to retain the seat – a blue-ribbon locale home to some of the Liberal Party’s most affluent backers – for a second term running.

With more than 60 per cent of the vote counted, Chaney will retain the seat on preferences after securing a 5 per cent swing.

Curtin was widely regarded as a critical seat for the Liberal Party, serving as a potential indicator of success or a power shift if the initial vote counts were close.

“Tom White is a future leader of the party,” says Nine’s Political Editor Charles Croucher.

“If he can manage to get in. Right now, the projection is that Kate Chaney is in front.

“Once more, if the Liberals are unable to secure Julie Bishop’s former seat, or win in the area where Gina Rinehart and Twiggy Forrest reside, winning the election becomes challenging for them.”

Across the rest of WA, the ALP maintained its hold on the state, retaining almost all of the seats it won at the 2022 election.

Sam Lim, a former dolphin trainer, is on track to retain the seat of Tangney, which he picked up in a huge upset in 2022.

ALP candidate Trish Cook is ahead in Bullwinkel against Liberal candidate Matt Moran, with more counting to come.

In a rare bright spot for the Liberal Party tonight, Andrew Hastie retained his seat of Canning and a healthy 7.2 per cent swing in his favour.

Hastie’s win also puts him in the leadership race for the party, given Peter Dutton lost his seat in Dickson, a historical first for an opposition leader.

He will face strong opposition from other frontrunners in Angus Taylor, Dan Tehan and Jane Hume.