WA Libs leader puts power over net zero fight

New WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas has distanced himself from federal colleagues’ net zero debate, choosing instead to target Labor's energy transition plans.

Liberal leader Basil Zempilas at the 2025 Liberal State Conference. Picture: Liberals WA

West Australian Liberal leader Basil Zempilas says he will focus on the state Labor government’s energy transition plans rather than the debate over net-zero emissions targets, amid ongoing intense debate on climate policy among his federal counterparts.

In his first address as party leader to the WA Liberal Party’s state conference in Perth on Sunday, Mr Zempilas said West Australians had made it clear to him that they wanted to reduce emissions – but only if it did not lead to soaring prices and increased unreliability.

As Michaelia Cash – one of the Liberal Party’s most vocal opponents to net zero – watched on from elsewhere on stage, Mr Zempilas said the party needed to accept that the people of WA wanted cleaner energy.

“Western Australians do care about the environment. They want to reduce emissions. We need to accept this or risk looking out of touch,” he said.

Rather than focus on the debate over net zero targets, the party needed to scrutinise the Cook government’s efforts to deliver the energy transition it has promised without driving up electricity prices.

“Getting stuck on the question of net zero is not our focus,” Mr Zempilas said. “Instead we are ­zeroing in on Labor’s delivery of its transition plans, which are unrealistic, unaffordable and will result in greater energy unreliability.”

Mr Zempilas was criticised by prominent federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie earlier this year after the WA Opposition Leader said he would not be adopting a motion moved at the party’s state council to abandon net zero.

He used his speech to outline his plans for the party – which has suffered three consecutive record defeats at the past three state elections – to not only contend at the 2029 state election but win.

The party’s focus would be directed at the Cook government’s handling of the state’s health system, which has been groaning in recent years amid a surge in ambulance ramping levels.

At the same time as the health system struggles, the Cook government has been pursuing a $217m development of a V8 Supercar track and entertainment precinct on riverfront parkland between Optus Stadium and Crown Casino and committed $65m towards the new Perth Bears rugby league franchise.

Both endeavours, Mr Zempilas said, were emblematic of the Cook government’s weaknesses.

“(The racetrack) is a metaphor for their lack of consultation, their poor decision-making and their wrong priorities,” he said.

“They have had nine years to have Western Australian health and hospitals in a better position, and they have failed the people of Western Australia. And while that’s going on, they continue to prioritise a $217m racetrack at Burswood. What could that money do for health? What could that money do for our hospitals?”

WA Premier Roger Cook pushed back on Mr Zempilas’s criticism of the racetrack plan, telling reporters that if Mr Zempilas had his way, WA would be spending “billions” getting ready for Perth to host the Commonwealth Games.

“We just despair that they provide absolutely no alternative to the government in relation to what they want to see happen. All we see from them is just thought bubbles, political slogans, but no solutions for the people,” he said.

“My government is working hard every day to ensure that we make jobs, health and housing our priority for the Western Australian community. And we’ll continue to maintain our focus.”

The WA Nationals, meanwhile, also hosted their state conference over the weekend. A discussion on whether to pursue a coalition arrangement with the state Liberals drew a mixed response from delegates, with Nationals leader Shane Love and Mr Zempilas set to continue talks.