Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has expressed growing optimism for the upcoming federal election, following the results of the Western Australian state poll.

Western Australia at 35/2 after 19 overs, Hilton Cartwright at 5 runs and Cameron Bancroft at 20 runs

The unusual discovery of a ghost net — a lost or dumped fishing net drifting through the ocean — washed up near Albany sparks concern for the nets' impact on local marine life.