Western Australia’s Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas has publicly distanced himself from senior federal colleagues Andrew Hastie and Michaelia Cash, as well as the state party’s membership, by rejecting recent motions to abandon net zero emissions targets, Welcome to Country ceremonies and the display of Indigenous flags.
Just days after the WA Liberal state council passed non-binding resolutions in favour of scrapping all three, Mr Zempilas told The Australian on Monday that the WA Parliamentary Liberal Party would not support the changes, instead maintaining the current position.
“We are very comfortable with standing in front of the Aboriginal flag, we are very comfortable with the Welcome to Country, and we support the status quo on the net zero targets,” Zempilas said.
He emphasised that while grassroots members are entitled to voice their opinions, such motions do not dictate parliamentary policy.
He also pointed to the federal election result under Peter Dutton, which saw significant losses, as evidence that these cultural positions are electorally unhelpful.
The push to reverse net zero policy came from the Canning division, backed by federal MP Andrew Hastie. Senator Michaelia Cash supported motions that sought to restrict official flag displays to national and state flags only and to eliminate Welcome to Country ceremonies at government events.
Mr Zempilas, who departed the state council meeting before the vote citing prior commitments, reaffirmed his more moderate stance.
“It’s not a requirement that everybody agrees… I’m quite confident in the position that I represent,” he said.
The divide underscores an ongoing tension within the Liberal Party between its federal and state wings, and between grassroots activists and parliamentary leaders, particularly on climate and cultural issues.
Source: The Australian
