Zempilas to face teal challenge in Churchlands from Stirling councillor

Another teal independent has entered the fray in the western suburbs ahead of the March state election, with City of Stirling Councillor Lisa Thornton putting her hand up for the seat of Churchlands.

Booths in Churchlands garnered some of the highest vote rates for federal teal Kate Chaney at the 2022 federal election. If that sentiment flowed to the state election, Thornton could make Liberal hopeful and Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas’ path to parliament far more difficult.

Teal independent for Churchlands Lisa Thornton.

The seat also has a long history of electing independents, with Liz Constable holding the seat for 17 years of its 28-year history.

“I’m running for Churchlands because our community deserves a representative who listens, acts and puts people first,” Thornton said.

“As an independent, I’m free from party politics and vested interests, which means I can focus 100 per cent of my efforts on delivering for the people of Churchlands.”

Density is shaping as a big election issue for Churchlands residents – particularly development plans around the Floreat Forum.

Thornton said she would advocate for community interests in decision-making, which included a third-party right of appeal.

She was also campaigning for improved tree canopy and biodiversity, and practical action on climate change as well as reducing conflicts of interest in politics by banning donations from property developers.

Like Chaney, Thornton would also start a voluntary donor wall on her website to record donations in real time.

Labor’s Christine Tonkin won the seat from the Liberals in the 2021 election landslide with a shock margin of 0.8 per cent.

After a recent boundary redistribution, that margin has increased to 1.6 per cent.

Zempilas said it was great to have another opponent.

“I have always expected to be running against multiple candidates other than the incumbent – and it just demonstrates what I have always believed, our electorate feels let down by this Labor government and want change,” he said.

“The new candidate and I are fighting for the same thing, and I’m very pleased to see another candidate, who like me, comes from serving in local government, because nobody knows quite like we do how dismissive of local issues and local decision-making this Labor government has been.

“It’s time for that to change. I wish Lisa all the best.”

Thornton’s announcement makes her the third woman to run a teal-style campaign in the western suburbs.

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