Monday’s leadership vote for the West Australian parliamentary Liberal Party sounds more like a parody of the woes facing the Coalition across the country.

It’s not unusual for a deputy to challenge a party leader, of course, particularly at the restless mid-point of another term in opposition. What is unusual is that they are only two Liberals in the lower house of parliament after a state that was once a Coalition stronghold was decimated by the McGowan juggernaut at the 2021 election.