Former WA Liberals leader David Honey has lost a preselection battle for the Liberal heartland seat of Cottesloe to property council chief Sandra Brewer.

Ms Brewer, the WA chief executive of the Property Council, had made no secret of her aims to claim the blue-ribbon seat, putting her in a strong position to secure a position in the WA parliament in the 2025 election.

“I’m delighted to have been supported by Liberal Party branch members this morning… and I’m hopeful for endorsement by the state council,” Ms Brewer said.

Until the state council officially considers her endorsement party rules constrain her from further comment.

Ms Brewer was up against Dr Honey and entertainment lawyer Richard Evans. 

The ABC understands Ms Brewer won the three-cornered contest outright on first preferences. 

It’s understood Dr Honey received 28 votes to Ms Brewer’s 51. 

Ms Brewer is a marketing executive who, prior to joining the property council, launched her own firm.

Dr Honey was one of just two Liberals to be elected to the WA lower house in the 2021 election that swept the Labor Party to outright victory in both houses.

A fairly bloodless coup by Libby Mettam saw him hand over the party leadership in January last year.

Ms Mettam said she respected today’s decision. 

“I would like to thank David Honey for his significant service to the Liberal Party and the state. David has worked tirelessly for his community and for the Liberal Party,” she said.

“I look forward to working with Sandra in the event she is endorsed by state council.”

Cottesloe is a plum Liberal seat in Perth’s exclusive “golden triangle”, which the party has won ever since it was first contested in 1950.

Dr Honey took over the seat of Cottesloe from former WA premier Colin Barnett in 2018, who held it for 28 years. 

The 2021 bloodbath saw a 10.7 per cent swing in Cottesloe against the Liberals, but Dr Honey held it with a comfortable 7.4 per cent margin. 

University of Notre Dame adjunct professor Peter Kennedy said Saturday’s outcome indicated the party’s commitment to changing tack.

“Cottesloe is the Liberal Party’s safest seat, it’s only had four members… and they’ve all been senior members of the party,” Professor Kennedy said.

“For Sandra Brewer to break through as the first woman to be selected by the Liberal Party to contest the seat of Cottesloe is a very significant move.

“She’s defeated David Honey who’s been a loyal servant for many, many years.

Professor Kennedy said her selection could also help head off a possible challenge by socially and environmentally progressive conservatives, the Teals, who rose to power in the last federal election in the overlapping federal seat of Curtin.

In 2022 the WA Liberals changed the preselection process, allowing branch members to vote directly for candidates.

Previously the party used selection committees, a system that came under fire for allowing powerbrokers to exert undue influence.

The 2025 state election will be the first real test of the model, since it was trialled in some seats in the 2022 Federal Election.

The Liberal Party state council is due to meet to consider Ms Brewer’s endorsement on March 2. 

She will formally resign from her role with the Property Council. 

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