Perth Lord Mayor and TV presenter Basil Zempilas is set to be elected as the WA Liberal candidate in Churchlands without any competition.
According to the ABC, nobody will contest Zempilas’ bid to represent the Liberals at a preselection contest next month.
The media personality has been touted as a potential high-profile candidate to revive the ranks of the WA Liberals, and as a possible party leader, though he has always denied ambitions to take captaincy.
A three-decade-long media presence on TV, radio and print, as well as his role as Perth’s lord mayor since 2020 have positioned him as a recognisable figure in Western Australia.
Despite controversies that have occasionally overshadowed his public image, Zempilas’ communication skills and name recognition are significant.
In January, Zempilas came under fire for some comments he made before a press conference about a women’s tennis final, but he insisted they were taken out of context.
Recently the 52-year-old was also involved in a clash with the Labor government over an overnight women’s respite centre.
Run by Ruah Community Services, the centre was funded by the city for two-and-a-half years as a trial before ending in November.
He has denied the saga had anything to do with his run for the seat, and said he had only been working in his role as the Lord Mayor.
The seat in Churchlands has been with Labor since the 2021 state election, with the Liberals’ Sean L’Estrange holding it for eight years prior.
ABC understand that though only as a formality, Zempilas will still have to go through the preselection process.
