WA Election 2025: Libby Mettam denies Basil Zempilas is a distraction, refuses to set target for poll success

Libby Mettam has denied Basil Zempilas is a distraction during the State Election campaign, as she refused to be drawn on the number of seats she believed would be a victory for the Liberals. Ms Mettam was also forced to defend her party’s stance on the Women’s and Babies Hospital and claims there was a mortality risk in the Government decision to move it to Murdoch — away from Perth Children’s Hospital in Nedlands. But pushed on a realistic result for the Liberals at the March 8 poll, Ms Mettam sought to shift the debate to the party’s attack on the Government. The Liberals currently hold just three seats in the lower house, with the electoral performance at this year’s election crucial for establishing a more respectable opposition, and a stepping stone for the 2029 poll. “What Western Australians really care about is a government and a party that can deliver for them, and this government have comprehensively failed in those areas,” she said, appearing on ABC Radio. “Only a WA Liberal Government is committed to delivering, fixing our broken police system, covering stamp duty, payroll tax, stamp duty for seniors that want to downsize this work, delivering an additional 300 police officers from day one or keeping our community safe. “There are several significant challenges and that is one of the choices.” Asked if she could trust Mr Zempilas — after a group of Liberals attempted to replace her with him as leader late last year — Ms Mettam said the debate was a “distraction” being pushed by Premier Roger Cook. “While these are the questions that I get from commentators and I understand, (but) what people really want to know is whether they’ll be able to access healthcare or see their doctor within a reasonable period,” she said.