The new leader of the West Australian Liberal Party, Libby Mettam, readily concedes that she has taken on the toughest job in national politics: trying to inject new life into a moribund party.

Just as the last rites were about to be administered on a party that had enjoyed considerable success in the west since World War II but had hit hard times, she has stepped up to present a new image and, as far as dispirited supporters are concerned, new hope.