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Basil Zempilas

Peter Dutton made an awkward slip of the tongue while attempting to praise Basil Zempilas.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumDutton’s awkward one-word blunder as he praises Basil

Peter Dutton’s praise for new WA Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas briefly missed the mark after a very unfortunate choice of words.

Jessica Page

Leader of WA Liberals Basil Zempilas.

opinion
opinion
Opinion CommentsPremium
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Liberals of 2025 will ensure WA’s future is not compromised

I am honoured and humbled to have been chosen to lead the Liberal Party. This is not a refresh or rebuild for the Liberal Party, it is a reset. We will take our lead on character and class from Libby Mettam.

Basil Zempilas

WA Liberals have met for the first time after a State election drubbing that has cost Libby Mettam her leadership and is set to deliver Basil Zempilas the top job.

WA election 2025CommentsPremiumMettam eyes silver lining as Libs gather for election wake

WA Liberals have met for the first time after a State election drubbing that has cost Libby Mettam her leadership and is set to deliver Basil Zempilas the top job.

Joe Spagnolo

‘If we secure a team, we need to know how much it’s cost us,’ writes Basil Zempilas.

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BASIL ZEMPILASComments
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Perth deserves an NRL team but only if the price is right

And that would mean none of that commercial-in-confidence hogwash which gets bandied around.

Basil Zempilas

Liberal candidate for Churchlands Basil Zempilas.

opinion
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BASIL ZEMPILAS CommentsPremium
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Reflecting on time as Lord Mayor in wake of Churchlands win

If there is one regret about moving on it’s that our partnership comes to an end. Perth, it has been a privilege to serve.

Basil Zempilas

City of Perth Lord Mayor and Seven West media personality Basil Zempilas will be running for the Liberal Party in the seat of Churchlands in the 2025 WA election. Colin Murty.

opinion
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Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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What a joy it is to be part of our great democratic process

Whatever happens on Saturday, it has been an honour and a privilege to put my name forward to be considered by the good people of Churchlands.

Basil Zempilas

$300 million for an NRL team based in Perth. Is our Premier totally delusional? writes Basil Zempilas.

opinion
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Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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Cook’s reckless intentions exposed over WA NRL team

$300 million for an NRL team based in Perth. Is our Premier totally delusional?

Basil Zempilas

Basil Zempilas Liberal of Churchlands and Perth Mayor with Liberal Leader Libby Mettam, Liberal candidates to mark 100 days until the State election at Kings Park

opinion
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Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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Roger Cook is pathetic for calling Libby Mettam lazy

Of all the petulant and invented insults Roger Cook has hurled at Libby Mettam, calling her lazy has shown everyone how arrogant and out of touch he and this Government are.

Basil Zempilas

Libby Mettam has denied Basil Zempilas is a distraction.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumBasil ‘not distracting me from the election’, Mettam claims

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. 

Dylan Caporn

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas.

opinion
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Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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I hope Cook and Papalia have read the Bombara report

Even in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy so shocking it stunned an entire State, true to form, the Premier and Police Minister knew everything and wanted to lecture everyone.

Basil Zempilas

Premier Roger Cook.

opinion
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Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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Cook’s ‘part and parcel’ blackout excuse isn’t good enough

Can you imagine another four years of this? 

Basil Zempilas

‘We live in an energy rich State with huge budget surpluses and the best Premier Roger Cook can offer up in regard to power outages is ‘they are part and parcel’ of a large energy network,’ writes Basil Zempilas.

opinion
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BASIL ZEMPILASCommentsPremium
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Roger Cook is treating us like mugs

We live in an energy rich State with huge budget surpluses and the best Premier Roger Cook can offer up in regard to power outages is ‘they are part and parcel’ of a large energy network.

Basil Zempilas

Two years ago I highlighted the dangers and tried to raise the urgency of the response. 

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Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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Our community needed action two years ago from Labor

Two years ago I highlighted the dangers and tried to raise the urgency of the response. 

Basil Zempilas

The first New Years Eve fireworks display at Elizabeth Quay.

opinion
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Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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Perth NYE fireworks to rival celebrations around the world

‘I’m incredibly proud to be able to say Perth has a brand new New Year’s Eve tradition.’

Basil Zempilas

Basil Zempilas.

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Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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Year-ending column dedicated to those who stood out in 2024

It’s as traditional as fireworks on New Year’s Eve, the year-ending column dedicated to those who stood out at home and away in 2024. At number one: Donald Trump.

Basil Zempilas

The Commonwealth Bank’s new $3 withdrawal fee hits hard during a cost-of-living crisis, showcasing corporate greed at its finest.

opinion
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State PoliticsComments
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$3 withdrawal fee amid crisis? Ridiculous corporate greed!

The Commonwealth Bank’s new $3 withdrawal fee hits hard during a cost-of-living crisis, showcasing corporate greed at its finest.

Basil Zempilas

Not an idiot, just a team player. No challenge from me. Let’s focus on what matters and celebrate brave voices like Ariel Bombara.

opinion
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State PoliticsComments
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Challenge on Libby unnecessary, unhelpful & not my doing

Not an idiot, just a team player. No challenge from me. Let’s focus on what matters and celebrate brave voices like Ariel Bombara.

Basil Zempilas

Basil Zempilas Liberal of Churchlands and Perth Mayor with Liberal Leader Libby Mettam, Liberal candidates to mark 100 days until the State election at Kings Park

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumLiberal ‘coward’ all alone as Basil’s manager ‘steps aside’

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas’ campaign manager has ‘stepped aside’ in the wake of this week’s Liberal leadership crisis.

Jessica Page and Dylan Caporn

The Lord Mayor, who is also a Seven West employee, reiterated he would not challenge Ms Mettam.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumBasil vows not to challenge Mettam prior to election

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas has refused to rule out taking over from Libby Mettam as ‘campaign leader’ before the next election — but has insisted he did not undermine her and would not challenge her.

Jake Dietsch

Libby Mettam MLA Leader of the Liberal Party.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
‘Catastrophic’: Liberal SOS predicts whitewash under Mettam

Liberal Leader Libby Mettam has been put on notice by ‘catastrophic’ polling that warns the party is on the edge of a new record election disaster, unless she hands over the reins.

Jessica Page

Basil Zempilas has slammed the door shut on challenging Libby Mettam for the leadership of the WA Liberal Party before the next election.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Basil opens upCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Basil rules out challenge to Mettam’s leadership, but...

The Perth Lord Mayor, expected to win a seat in State Parliament next year, says he won’t bring on a challenge to Libby Mettam’s leadership, but has left the door open to leading the party to the election.

Joe Spagnolo

One third of all Japan’s energy needs are supported by Australia.

Basil ZempilasPremiumWA and Japan a match made in trading heaven

This year Japan is on track to record one million Australian visitors. That means one in every 25 Australians will visit Japan during 2024

Basil Zempilas

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas in front of sister city Kagoshima City’s Perth-themed tram.

Basil in Japan CommentsPremium‘Perth isn’t just a stop over’: Lord Mayor tells Japanese

Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas is spruiking Perth as not just a stop over destination for overseas tourists - but as a place to stay and holiday - during his visit to Japan.

Joe Spagnolo

Basil Zempilas.

opinion
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Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
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King-heckler Thorpe holding balance of power a scary thought

Who else is horrified at the prospect of the crossbenchers having the balance of power in the next Federal Parliament? And people reckon Halloween is scary. 

Basil Zempilas