Western Australia’s Liberal leader Libby Mettam has retained her position following internal pressure to step aside, as speculation swirls around Perth Lord Mayor and media personality Basil Zempilas potentially taking the party’s reins.
In a tense party room meeting, Ms Mettam survived a leadership challenge after a motion of no confidence failed to materialise.
“I gave my colleagues the opportunity to move a motion of no confidence. No one did,” Ms Mettam said, adding, “We can now put this debacle behind us and move forward as a party to contest the March 2025 state election.”
The challenge was sparked by leaked polling suggesting the Liberals’ primary vote would increase by 7% under Zempilas, dubbed “The Basil Effect.” The polling, not commissioned by the party, was reportedly funded by private business interests and presented to Ms Mettam weeks earlier.
Ms Mettam alleged the aim of the research was to pressure her into resigning to make way for Zempilas.
“I was told I should step aside quickly if I wanted to avoid the polling being provided to the media to further damage me and the Liberal Party,” she said.
Zempilas, currently the Liberal candidate for Churchlands and not a sitting MP, has ruled out directly challenging Ms Mettam, but has not dismissed the possibility of leading the party before the next election. Supporters point to the 2011 case of Campbell Newman in Queensland as a precedent for an outsider taking leadership ahead of an election.
Ms Mettam firmly stated that she would not serve as deputy leader under Zempilas.
“It probably would not be appropriate that I’d be part of the leadership team,” she told ABC Radio Perth.
Despite speculation, former WA Premier Colin Barnett expressed his support for both figures, stating, “I think Libby Mettam and Basil Zempilas are the future of the Liberal Party.”
The WA Liberals, nearly wiped out in the 2021 election, are under pressure to rebuild ahead of March 2025. Some party members view Zempilas as a potential game-changer, but for now, Mettam remains at the helm, urging unity and focus on the election campaign.
Source: ABC News.
