The Western Australian election campaign is heating up, with tensions flaring between Perth Lord Mayor and Liberal candidate Basil Zempilas and Premier Roger Cook’s chief of staff, Daniel Pastorelli, over the use of annual leave during campaign periods.
Pastorelli, who is also Labor’s candidate for Landsdale, stated he was taking annual leave to balance his responsibilities as chief of staff and his campaign activities. “I’ve always in my job as chief of staff, I’ve always performed that in the best interests of the public and same goes for my role now as a candidate,” he said. He even offered to share his leave forms to prove the separation of roles.
In response, Zempilas called on Pastorelli to make his leave records public, arguing that his own decision to remain as lord mayor until the writs are issued is consistent with long-standing practices. “Everybody knows what I’m doing is following the rules and procedures that have been set out forever,” Zempilas said.
Premier Roger Cook dismissed Zempilas’ demands, saying Pastorelli’s leave forms would not be handed over and could only be accessed through Freedom of Information laws. Cook defended Pastorelli’s integrity, stating, “He understands full well his obligations and responsibilities as a public servant, but also as a candidate, and he was doing everything by the book.”
As the campaign intensifies, the clash between Zempilas and Pastorelli highlights the pressures on candidates balancing professional roles with election commitments.
