As reported on the ABC, in an email sent to supporters earlier this week, Andrew Hastie expressed disappointment in Zempilas, following the WA Liberal State Council’s endorsement of a motion — moved by Hastie’s Canning division — calling on the federal party to abandon its commitment to net zero.
“The motion reflects mounting concern among mainstream Australians about rising energy costs, an unreliable power grid, and threats to national sovereignty,” Hastie wrote. “I was therefore disappointed to see WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas publicly dismiss those concerns.”
Despite the motion’s success at the party’s state conference, Zempilas told media he remained comfortable with the existing net zero target. He argued that abandoning the policy risked further alienating key voter demographics, especially younger Australians, women, and city-based electorates — groups the Liberal Party has struggled to win back since the last federal election.
Zempilas, who has been leader of the WA Liberals for just four months, reaffirmed his support for the target on Monday and rejected another controversial motion aimed at removing Welcome to Country ceremonies and Indigenous flags from official events.
“We support the status quo on net zero. We are very comfortable standing in front of the Aboriginal flag and with Welcome to Country,” Zempilas said.
Asked about Hastie’s rebuke, Zempilas struck a conciliatory tone, calling the debate “robust” and saying internal disagreements were part of a healthy democratic process.
“These are motions for the federal party to consider. They don’t require action from the WA branch,” he said. “I’ve been engaging with thousands of West Australians, and I’m listening carefully to what they’re telling me.”
Cottesloe MP Sandra Brewer backed Zempilas at a Perth business event, brushing aside any suggestion the state leader was rattled by the federal MP’s comments.
“I support Basil’s view that we accept the current policy on net zero,” she said. “This is typical of the normal differences between state and federal divisions — it’s a sign of a functioning party. I’m sure Basil can handle it.”
The internal tension comes as federal Liberal deputy leader Sussan Ley leads a policy review into the party’s stance on emissions and energy — an effort to regain ground lost to Labor and teal independents, particularly in urban electorates.
While the South Australian Liberal branch has echoed WA’s call to scrap the 2050 target, Queensland’s position remains unclear.
