Basil Zempilas, the prominent media figure and lord mayor of Perth, emerged as a key contender for the Liberals in the Churchlands electorate, a seat once perceived as a stronghold for the party. Despite his high profile, Zempilas faced a challenging contest, struggling to secure a convincing victory in an area typically loyal to the Liberals.
Early indications of trouble surfaced shortly after counting began, with Zempilas’ primary votes declining, alongside those of the Labor incumbent, Christine Tonkin. Political analysts expressed concerns over the results, highlighting a worrying trend for Zempilas as more voting booths reported their counts.
The unexpected Labor victory in Churchlands during the previous election in 2021 signalled a considerable shift, attributed to significant public support for former Premier Mark McGowan’s pandemic policies. While many anticipated a Liberal comeback in Churchlands, the narrowness of the race, particularly in comparison to previous elections, raised questions about Zempilas’ leadership potential within the party.
Despite an improvement in his primary vote as the counting continued, Zempilas’ performance was underwhelming compared to previous Liberal results in the area. This situation could influence the Liberals’ strategic decisions moving forward.
In her concession speech, Libby Mettam, the party leader, acknowledged the ongoing need to rebuild the Liberal party but did not signal any intent to step down. She expressed disappointment over the results but reinforced her determination to learn from this experience for future elections, stating, “What we will take from tonight is lessons on how we can do better.”
As the counting concluded, Labor secured 37 seats, significantly surpassing the 30 required to form a government, while the Liberals and Nationals could only manage two seats each, with one seat going to an independent and 16 still undecided. The results paint a challenging picture for the Liberals as they face a period of reflection and restructuring ahead.