Why have the Liberals changed their tune on Kate Hulett?

Fremantle independent Kate Hulett has been shown love across the political spectrum after being placed third on the how-to-vote cards of the Liberals, Greens and Labor.

The preferences have given her campaign in Fremantle a shot in the arm after a preference deal struck between Labor and the Liberals that saw her placed below Labor on the Liberals’ how-to-vote cards – hurting her chances at an upset victory over Simone McGurk at the WA election.

Independent candidate Kate Hulett.Credit: Mark Naglazas

Hulett’s placement was one of several surprises contained in the major parties’ how-to-vote cards released over the past two days following the draw of ballots earlier this week.

Despite his unceremonious departure from the Liberals after being dumped during preselection for Vince Connelly, Ian Goodenough remains second on Connelly’s preferences.

One Liberal strategist said his high placement was a result of his 12 years with the Liberals.

Labor’s candidate in that marginal seat Tom French has preferenced Goodenough third.

In Bullwinkel, where preferences will play a huge role in who will be elected out of the Nationals’ Mia Davies, Liberals’ Matt Moran and Labor’s Trish Cook the coalition partners have played a straight bat.

Despite rumours of a deal being negotiated between Labor and the Nationals to try direct preferences away from the Liberals Davies’ how to vote has Moran firmly second and Cook in sixth place.

Moran has Davies second and Cook in fifth.

Interestingly, Cook has placed Moran above Davies on her how to vote at fourth and fifth respectively.

A broader look at the how-to-votes show there are still strong allegiances between Labor and the Greens despite all the derision from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in recent months when he is asked about a potential coalition with them.

Across all seats except for O’Connor (because the how-to-vote hasn’t been published yet) Labor MPs are preferencing the Greens candidate.

Likewise, the Liberals are strongly preferencing conservative parties, with most candidates placing One Nation or the Australian Christians second.

Curtin’s Tom White has not yet revealed his how-to-vote yet and the Liberals’ satisfaction with Hulett does not extend to the teal-style independent Sue Chapman in the South West seat of Forrest.

Liberal candidate Ben Small has placed Chapman in seventh suggesting the campaign there is worried about Chapman’s presence.

How to vote cards are important tools to the Labor and Liberal parties.

Nortre Dame politics expert Martin Drum said research suggested that about half of Labor and Liberal voters follow the directions of how to vote cards.

“The data shows us that Labor and Liberal voters follow how-to-vote cards more than independent and Greens voters because they’re a bit more rusted on,” he said.

“I’m not that interested in politics, but I’ll vote now the way I’ve always done and for those people, how to vote card makes life simple.”

Drum said Hulett’s placement ahead of Labor on the Liberals’ how-to-vote card suggested they would rather have an independent in Parliament than another Labor MP who could tip them into majority.

“Usually, they’ll preference the independents ahead of each other because independents are still handy, especially hung parliament because you’ve got one less Labor or Liberal person and another independent,” he said.

Hulett’s how-to-vote cards do not direct punters on their preferences, and she has called for them to be banned.

“I don’t direct preference flows, so every person in Fremantle who votes for me is empowered to number their ballot paper according to their values,” she said.

“In fact, I’ve called for a ban on “how to vote”, giving the power to people rather than political parties.”