In mid-2007, with increasingly hostile coverage from the state newspaper of record, The West Australian, and the Liberal Opposition's failure to make ground on any key issue against the Government despite a number of scandals, speculation emerged in the media that Omodei would be replaced as leader by his deputy, Troy Buswell after the Federal election on 24 November 2007.
In mid-2007, The West Australian newspaper and the Liberal Opposition's efforts to challenge the Government were met with growing hostility, yet they failed to achieve any notable successes despite several scandals. This led to speculation in the media that Omodei might be replaced as leader by his deputy, Troy Buswell, following the Federal election on 24 November 2007.