Basil Zempilas confirms challenge for WA Liberal leadership after Libby Mettam steps down after crushing election defeat

Basil Zempilas has confirmed he wants to lead the WA Liberal Party after Libby Mettam stepped down in the wake of the party’s disastrous election defeat earlier this month.

Latest tallying from the March 8 poll shows the Liberals have won just six seats in the lower house, and Mettam conceded that while she wanted to continue as leader she had lost the support of the party.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Basil Zempilas primed to take over leadership of WA Libs.

“I had private conversations with my colleagues but it is very clear that my colleagues were seeking a new direction ... and I certainly respect that position,” she said.

Mettam said she realised the party wanted to make the shift shortly after Roger Cook guided Labor to a third-straight win.

The new leader will be the party’s sixth since the 2017 state election loss. Given Labor’s domination over the last eight years, Mettam said “stability” is needed in the run up to the next state vote in 2029.

“I think it is in the public’s interest that we address leadership speculation as soon as possible,” she said.

Mettam’s decision has broadcaster and high-profile Perth Lord Mayor Zempilas primed to take the job, which he has confirmed he wants.

“I am prepared to put my name forward. I am prepared to be considered by those in the party room,” he said on Thursday.

“Clearly, I would not be putting my name forward if I didn’t think I was capable of doing the job.

“We’re under no illusions — this is an inexperienced lower house team when we step into parliament. I’m very pleased that Libby is going to be there with us. That is hugely important.

“But when you consider ‘will I put my name forward’, you have to consider do I feel like I can do the job, do I feel like I am up to the job and principally that job is holding this state Labor government to account.

“And so yes, I feel comfortable that I have what is needed to fulfil the job.”

According to 7NEWS, it is pretty much a done deal. Zempilas has the support of the other Liberal MPs and is the only person to put their hand up for the role.

The party will meet and vote on Tuesday.

Vasse MP Mettam survived a leadership challenge in November, just months out from the election. She believes it did unstable the party’s campaign.

Zempilas has loomed large in the background, even before announcing he wanted to enter state politics.

The former radio and TV giant narrowly secured the seat of Churchlands from Labor’s Christine Tonkin on Wednesday, but Mettam said Zempilas “has a lot of popularity”.

“What I would say about the contest in Churchlands is that Labor threw incredible resources at Basil as an individual and as a public figure,” she said.

Mettam said she will chase the deputy position when the party room meets on Tuesday, hoping her experience as an MP and in the campaign cauldron can prove important.

It was a point Zempilas said he was “pleased” to hear, adding there was no issue “of trust” between them.

“I think that is enormously beneficial to me or whoever it might be who leads the Liberal Party into the future. We are light on in experience. Libby’s experience is going to be really important,” he said.

When quizzed on his credentials, Zempilas said he had been a leader for five years as the Lord Mayor of Perth.

“My track record is there for everybody to see. I won an election against other first-timers and then was re-elected,” he said of his local government wins in 2020 and 2023.

“And then I won the seat of Churchlands against a member ... of this very strong Labor government.”

Mettam said she will be “supporting” whoever takes charge next “both privately and publicly”.

Zempilas said he had spoken to Mettam about “this process” but at no point indicated he did not back her.

“We spoke post-election a number of times and it was clear that Libby wanted some time to consider her next step or what her future was in this position and today she’s told everybody what that is,” Zempilas said.

Mettam led the party from January 2023 after taking over the post from David Honey (2021-2023).

She said she was proud of her work advocating for improvements to WA’s health system and the reversal of the Aboriginal cultural heritage act.

As recently as Wednesday, Mettam was supporting Libs colleagues pushing for an inquiry into the running of the WA election.

On Tuesday, she also took a shot at Premier Roger Cook for appointing untested minister Meredith Hammat to the health portfolio.

“Appointing a health minister with no prior ministerial experience is breath-taking hypocrisy from Labor,” she said.

“Roger Cook campaigned on experience this election, yet his new health minister is still on their L plates. We’ll be watching closely.”

Mike Nahan (2017-2019), the party’s first female leader Liza Harvey (2019-2020), and Zak Kirkup (2020-2021) have also tried to right the Liberal ship.