Colin Barnett cuts the ribbon at Basil Zempilas’ campaign office opening - but no sign of Libby Mettam

Former WA Premier Colin Barnett was the star attraction at Basil Zempilas’ campaign office opening on Saturday, saying the Churchlands Liberal candidate would “play a major role” in future Liberal governments. Mr Barnett told the gathering — who were treated to biscuits with pictures of Mr Zempilas’ face on them and an accordion player singing “roll out the Basil” — that the “worm has turned” and an election win for the Liberals was not out of the question next year. “He will play a major role in the Liberal Party and in the future governments of this state,” Mr Barnett said of the Churchlands candidate. “There is no doubt about that in my mind. “I guess I’d put it this way: The two people who really matter right now are Libby Mettam and Basil Zempilas. “They are the future of the Western Australian Liberal Party”. But while Mr Barnett was at the opening, Ms Mettam was not at the event. Asked why Ms Mettam was not at the opening of his campaign office, Mr Zempilas said: “This was really a community, suburban campaign office opening and out of respect to Libby, I’ve let her get on and do the important things she needs to do as leader. “I didn’t invite Libby, out of her respect for the schedule.” With polling showing the WA Liberals — who currently only have three members in the Legislative Assembly — are headed for another big election defeat next March, Ms Mettam’s leadership has come under the spotlight. Mr Zempilas, the current Perth Lord Mayor, has long been touted as a future leader of the Liberal Party. Contacted by The Sunday Times on Saturday and asked why she wasn’t at Mr Zempilas’ event, Ms Mettam said: “I was in Darling Range with our hardworking candidate Paul Mansfield, speaking with voters about our Building a Better Future blueprint.” Churchlands has traditionally been a Liberal seat — last held by former minister Sean L’Estrange. Labor won the seat in 2021, with MP Christine Tonkin holding the seat by just 0.81 per cent. Mr Barnett, who was the last WA Liberal Premier — from 2008 to 2017 when he was beaten by Mark McGowan’s Labor Party —played down the results of the 2021 poll, dismissing it as “an anomaly”. “It was the COVID election,” Mr Barnett said. “So that shouldn’t be treated as the base. “Our base is higher than that. “So, we can win it (in 2025).”