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Basil Zempilas

“why is it sharing the good news data with the world is fine but no one should dare ask about the cost?”

opinion
opinion
Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
opinion
10 things: How much will wrestling returning cost?

Even though I’m not a wrestling man, I love the big events and the ambition of this Government to go and get them. But how can we know the return on investment, if we don’t know what the investment is?

Basil Zempilas

“However you are celebrating this Easter, savour your family time, stay safe and enjoy the hot cross buns!”

opinion
opinion
Basil Zempilas
opinion
How much will a Perth-based NRL team really cost?

How many tens of millions of taxpayer dollars are being offered to the NRL through the back door?

Basil Zempilas

WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas.

opinion
opinion
State PoliticsCommentsPremium
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Let me introduce you to our 10 first-time WA Liberal MPs

It was a great privilege to be sworn in as a Member of the 42nd Parliament of WA this week.

Basil Zempilas

Liberal MP Jonathon Huston has refused to answer questions about his new role, a week after being named the Opposition’s Shadow Minister for “deregulation” by Basil Zempilas.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
State PoliticsVideoCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
New Liberal Huston’s oath of silence: ‘I can do what I like’

Listen to the audio as he arrived at State Parliament on Wednesday, reluctant to talk to The West Australian a day after being sworn in as the Member for Nedlands.

Jessica Page

Basil Zempilas and Roger Cook

updated
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State PoliticsCommentsPremium
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Basil caught out by rules in first question time

Basil Zempilas has been tested and goaded on day one in State Parliament, with question time descending into jeers moments after WA’s chief justice warned that western democracy is “under significant threat”.

Jessica Page

Basil Zempilas arrives at Parliament House.

state politicsCommentsPremium‘Real world experience’: Basil reveals his shadow cabinet

A new generation of first-term Liberal MP’s have been promoted to senior positions inside the shadow cabinet. SEE THE FULL LIST.

Jessica Page

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.

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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.

opinion
opinion
BASIL ZEMPILASComments
opinion
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
opinion
BASIL ZEMPILAS CommentsPremium
opinion
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.

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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
opinion
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

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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
opinion
Basil ZempilasCommentsPremium
opinion
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
opinion
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
opinion
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. 

opinion
opinion
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
opinion
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.

opinion
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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
opinion
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