The WA Liberals have declared it’s “showtime” as they start their run to the next election, buoyed by recent events and declaring they can beat Premier Roger Cook’s government at the 2025 poll.
Key points:
- The WA Liberals state conference is on in Perth
- State president Caroline Di Russo says Labor has been offering “political gifts”
- Federal leader Peter Dutton was Saturday’s keynote speaker
But state party president Caroline Di Russo warned members to not necessarily preselect their “besties” in winnable seats and to instead choose the best candidate, even if their “precise” values may differ.
In her address to the party’s annual state conference in Perth, she told hundreds of delegates not to get upset if they did not get their way in the preselection process, which has been amended to give branch members a greater say.
“Please keep the toys in the cot, or at the very least keep your tantrums out of the media,” Ms Di Russo, who does not belong to any faction, said.
“The public has had almost 12 months respite from our internal intrigues and I’d like to keep it that way.”
After being left with just two seats in the Legislative Assembly at the 2021 state election, when former Premier Mark McGowan’s government took control of both houses of parliament, the Liberals clearly believe their fortunes have turned with Mr Cook now at the helm.
‘Political gifts’
Ms Di Russo pointed to the government’s dumping of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, the result in the Voice referendum, and “blazing incompetence” from state and federal Labor governments as “political gifts for the Liberals”.
“The big takeaway from this year is that we are definitely on the up. There are green shoots,” Ms Di Russo said.
She was elected Liberal state president in February, in the same week Libby Mettam was chosen unopposed as WA Liberal leader, completing the state and federal party’s first all-female leadership team, along with WA Senator and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Michaelia Cash.
At the time, Ms Mettam said female-led representation would be vital in recouping the party’s female supporter base ahead of the next state election.
Ms Di Russo yesterday told party members it was time to turn their focus to preselecting the best people “to turn votes, flip seats, take government, and competently run this state”.
“The most suitable candidate may not be someone who has supported you in the past, may not be your bestie, may not necessarily share your precise view of the world,” she said.
“But does not mean they are not the best candidate for that particular seat.
“And regardless of where we reside in the party, we must consider who is most likely to help us achieve an electoral outcome and preselect those people.”
Ms Di Russo said that was “the message for everyone across this party”, sending a signal on the party discipline expected from all members, including factional powerbrokers.
Clan brought into line
When Ms Mettam took over the leadership, she pledged to “draw a line” in the sand over internal issues, which included the dealings of a factional group known as “The Clan”.
Leaked messages from a WhatsApp group used by members of the group contained boasts about branch stacking.
Ms Mettam had asked members of the group to apologise, but powerbroker Nick Goiran did not, saying “that would never happen”.
Nevertheless, Ms Di Russo said she was pleased with changes within the party this year.
“One thing I’ve been extraordinarily happy with this year is the improvement of party culture and discipline,” she told delegates.
“There is nothing like a focus on core business, campaigning, and electioneering to keep members engaged, and long may this continue.”
‘People will follow again’: Dutton
The event’s keynote speaker was federal Liberal leader Peter Dutton, who said he was seeing the beginnings of a return to Liberal values around Australia.
“For us, some of us have been in opposition before and a lot of my colleagues, I know, have felt it quite acutely,” Mr Dutton said.
“It’s difficult going from decision-making particularly as ministers in a government going into opposition.
“I experienced it in 2007 when the great John Howard lost that election and it takes some time to adjust.
“If we stand up for our values, and if we stand up for what we believe in, what Australians vote for us to support on their behalf, people will follow again.
“And that’s exactly what you’re seeing around the country at the moment.”