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🇦🇺 Australia /Elections & Politics

New leader, old problem for WA Liberals as Zempilas flirts with One Nation

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Western Australia's Liberal leader Basil Zempilas is considering a relationship with the One Nation party, ranging from preference deals to a coalition.
  • Zempilas argues that ignoring One Nation would mean ignoring the will of the people and presents it as an opportunity to unseat Labor.
  • This mirrors past Liberal struggles with One Nation, including a damaging preference deal in the 2017 state election that did not change outcomes but hurt the Liberals' image.

Basil Zempilas, the new leader of Western Australia's Liberal Party, is reigniting a long-standing dilemma for the party by expressing an "open mind" about forming a relationship with Pauline Hanson's One Nation. Zempilas stated that ignoring One Nation would be to "ignore the will of the people" and sees the party not as a threat, but as an "opportunity" to unseat the ruling Labor government.

leaders needed to understand ignoring One Nation 'would be to ignore the will of the people'.

— Basil ZempilasZempilas explained his rationale for considering engagement with the One Nation party.

His proposed relationship could encompass anything from preference deals to a full coalition government. Zempilas justified this stance by suggesting that if voters are frustrated and seeking change, he would be "derelict in my duty not to look at all options." He also believes the party has changed and that voters' attitudes have shifted, pointing to current poll results as evidence.

If people's frustration in Western Australia is so elevated that they are in a mood for change, as the leader of the Liberal-National alliance … I would be derelict in my duty not to look at all options to help bring that about.

— Basil ZempilasZempilas justified his open-minded approach to potential alliances to facilitate a change in government.

This approach echoes the Liberal Party's past difficulties in navigating its relationship with One Nation. In the early 2000s, then-Prime Minister John Howard insisted One Nation be placed last on Liberal how-to-vote cards. However, by the 2017 state election, the WA Liberals entered into a preference deal with One Nation. Then-Premier Colin Barnett grew frustrated defending the decision, acknowledging One Nation's significant vote share but ultimately finding the deal "incredibly damaging."

The One Nation party may get 10 per cent, to 10 per cent or more of the vote, so I have to recognise that reality.

— Colin BarnettThe former WA Premier acknowledged the electoral significance of One Nation in 2017.

The 2017 preference deal, which ultimately did not alter any lower house seat results, is widely seen as having contributed to the Liberals' devastating loss, where they shed 18 seats. The focus on defending the deal, rather than policy, created a negative perception. Despite this history, Zempilas is attempting to rebuild the Liberal Party, distancing himself from One Nation's more extreme policies while still exploring avenues for cooperation.

I'm not going to be a martyr out there to placate people's opinions.

— Colin BarnettBarnett defended his party's decision to engage with One Nation despite potential criticism.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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