in the 2008 state election the party won four lower house seats, which together with three independents, enabled the liberals led by colin barnett to form an informal governing coalition after several days of negotiations. unlike traditional non-labor coalition governments, however, the national members only had limited collective responsibility, and reserved "the right to exempt [themselves] from cabinet and vote against an issue on the floor of the parliament if it's against the wishes of the people [they] represent." additionally, grylls was not appointed deputy premier, a post that went to liberal deputy leader kim hames.