Libby Mettam has announced she will not continue as leader of the Western Australia (WA) Liberals, a move that reflects the shifting dynamics within the party following recent electoral defeats. In a statement made on March 20, 2025, Mettam expressed that her departure as leader is necessary since she no longer has the support of her colleagues to lead the party through the upcoming election cycle.
With this announcement, the door is now open for Basil Zempilas, the newly elected Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Churchlands, to step into the leadership role. Zempilas was previously a high-profile media personality before his election and has been favored by some party members as the next leader. Mettam acknowledged the support for Zempilas in her remarks, stating, “I understand through conversations that there is support for Basil Zempilas going forward as the leader but we need to give an opportunity for our incoming candidates to ultimately make that decision.”
Mettam’s decision not to seek re-election as leader comes on the heels of a challenging election for the WA Liberals on March 8, 2025, during which the party gained only four seats, including the one Zempilas secured, but still faces challenges to regain its status as the official opposition. The party is still grappling with its performance in the wake of a significant defeat in the previous 2021 elections that saw them left with only two seats.
Reflecting on her tenure, Mettam noted, “While I would have liked and hoped to continue as leader it has become clear I do not have that support of my colleagues to continue as leader through to the election in 2029.” In her statement, she took responsibility for the party’s electoral misfortunes, attributing part of the blame to ongoing leadership speculation which detracted from their voter appeal.
During the recent election cycle, it has been reported that leadership instability heightened following leaked polling that suggested the WA Liberal party could enjoy a better chance at the polls if Zempilas led the campaign. This speculation evidently played a role in Mettam's ultimate resignation, as party dynamics continued changing rapidly in the lead-up to the elections.
“You can only take people at their word and Basil has been very explicit and clear, publicly and privately, that he was not involved in that,” Mettam remarked when referring to the speculation surrounding Zempilas’s potential candidacy; her comments underscore the need for unity within the party moving forward as it endeavors to recover from its recent losses.
The WA Liberal party room is set to meet on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, where a leadership decision will be finalized. Mettam stated, “A decision once made should not remain secret,” emphasizing the importance of transparency and clarity as the party navigates this pivotal transition.
The current political landscape following the election suggests the WA Liberal party faces tough times ahead; both they and the Nationals have each secured six seats in the lower house, making it increasingly likely they will endure a struggle over who holds the official opposition status. The Nationals previously achieved this status during the 2021 elections for the first time in the state's history, leaving the Liberals in a precarious position to reclaim their influence.
In this new political scenario, the chance of the parties remaining tied means that the upcoming negotiations regarding opposition status are likely to be contentious. The potential for both parties to finalize seating arrangements favors a developmental front that could see a rebranding required for the WA Liberals in order to ensure their viability moving forward.
Should the forthcoming meeting yield a decision to re-establish a coalition strategy to reclaim their standing, Zempilas has already indicated the need for a refresh and a rebrand of the party. He stated, “Formal opposition status will need to be decided, I don't think you can both be the formal opposition.” The comments signal his intentions to unify the party under a new vision.
As the WA Liberals move forward into this pivotal moment, it’s critical they address both public perception and party cohesion to reestablish their role in the political hierarchy of Western Australia. With Zempilas preparing to put forward his leadership candidacy, the next steps of the party will be crucial to determine their future trajectory in WA politics.
