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The Liberal Party’s leadership switch to Basil Zempilas has barely dented Labor’s lead, according to a new opinion poll, which also puts Roger Cook on notice over the cost of living.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
state politics CommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
Zempilas factor doesn’t dent Labor but cost of living might

The Liberal Party’s leadership switch to Basil Zempilas has barely dented Labor’s lead, according to a new opinion poll, which also puts Roger Cook on notice over the cost of living.

Jessica Page

Sussan Ley's Liberal party will come together to release their final policy.

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updated
Federal PoliticsVideoComments
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Ley promises ‘immediate’ cut to power prices under new plan

Coalition MPs have backed a climate and energy policy that closely mirrors the one agreed by the Liberals last week, with leader Sussan Ley promising an “immediate” reduction in power prices.

Katina Curtis

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says Labor is failing manufacturers. NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Federal PoliticsCommentsSussan Ley steps on the gas in climate and energy battle

Anthony Albanese and Sussan Ley have clashed over when Australians will see lower power bills as the Opposition refocuses on energy costs.

Katina Curtis

The Liberals have announced their climate policy, including scrapping its position on net zero.

Federal PoliticsVideoCommentsLibs lay down gauntlet to Albanese as net zero dumped

The Opposition has challenged the Prime Minister on soaring energy bills as the Liberals abandoned legislated emission reduction targets and mechanisms to cut pollution.

Katina Curtis

There was no movement on Sussan Ley’s leadership on Wednesday, despite earlier chatter of a showdown.

Federal PoliticsCommentsLibs tipped to dump net zero after failing to reveal policy

After nearly five hours of debate, Liberal MPs are set to return on Thursday morning to formally approve the party’s new policy.

Katina Curtis

Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley and Shadow Minister for Energy Dan Tehan.

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updated
Federal PoliticsComments
updated
Hold firm or walk away from net zero?

Sussan Ley faces growing unrest as conservatives push to abandon net zero while some warn the move could isolate Australia.

Caitlyn Rintoul

The Coalition is facing a possible split once again following the Nationals’ dumping of Net Zero policy.

Federal PoliticsCommentsCoalition crisis on net zero forces Libs’ hand on emissions

The Liberals will now decide their energy policy within days, not weeks, after the Nationals’ move to dump net zero raised anew the spectre of a split in the Coalition.

Katina Curtis and Andrew Greene

Sussan Ley will promise Australians income tax cuts as she battles to keep a divided Coalition focused on scrutinising Labor.

Federal PoliticsCommentsSussan Ley promises tax cuts but details are years away

Sussan Ley will promise Australians income tax cuts to be paid for by winding back new spending the Government proposes, but the details won’t come until closer to the 2028 election.

Katina Curtis

Nationals leader David Littleproud says Barnaby Joyce hasn’t quit the party yet and thinks he can talk his colleague.

Federal PoliticsCommentsLeader set to ask Barnaby Joyce to stay put in Nationals

Nationals leader David Littleproud says Barnaby Joyce hasn’t quit the party yet and thinks he can talk his colleague – and old leadership rival – into staying put.

Katina Curtis

Julie Bishop has called for more people to put up their hands for political careers.

state politicsCommentsJulie Bishop says new blood key to Liberal Party’s future

Julie Bishop has urged more West Australians to put their hands up for a career in politics after an internal Liberal review identified candidate selection as a priority in the party’s long road to recovery.

Jessica Page

Andrew Hastie has taken a back seat after resigning from Sussan Ley’s front bench.

Federal PoliticsCommentsShadow immigration minister issues stern warning to Liberals

Shadow immigration minister Paul Scarr has issued a public warning to his Liberal colleagues not to use the immigration debate to ‘inflame emotion’ after Andrew Hastie quit the front bench.

Katina Curtis

Shadow home affairs minister and Liberal leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie.

LiberalCommentsDisappointed Lib MP confronts Hastie during party meeting

Jostling is underway for who will take Andrew Hastie’s vacant shadow cabinet position as the Liberal MP was confronted by a colleague about his quitting over a dispute with leader Sussan Ley. 

Katina Curtis

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has apologised for distress caused by senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price. (Mick Tsikas Lukas Coch/AAP PHOTOS)

FEDERAL POLITICSCommentsJacinta Price again refuses to back Sussan Ley’s leadership

In her first radio interview after being dumped from shadow cabinet Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has again refused to back Liberal leader Sussan Ley’s leadership. 

Caitlyn Rintoul

Ms Ley dumped Senator Price from the Opposition frontbench on Wednesday evening.

Federal PoliticsComments‘Knives not being sharpened’ for Ley, insists Hastie

Liberal leadership contender Andrew Hastie insists ‘the knives are not being sharpened’ for Sussan Ley as his colleagues openly telegraph their desperation to move on from the Jacinta Price debacle.

Katina Curtis, Jessica Page and Caitlyn Rintoul

Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
Federal PoliticsCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
‘Special guest’ Jacinta Price a drawcard to Curtin Lib event

Jacinta Nampijinpa Price will appear at two WA Liberal Party events as pressure intensifies on the Senator over the damage she’s caused the party’s standing with the Indian Australian community.

Katina Curtis

Senator Jane Hume

Federal PoliticsComments‘Reeling’ Hume dragged into Hawke-Nampijinpa Price fight

Liberal senator Jane Hume is ‘reeling’ from having been caught up in a dispute between colleagues Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Alex Hawke over comments linking Indian Australians and high levels of migration.

Katina Curtis

State Liberal Party conference on Sunday, August 31, 2025. Pictured is party leader Basil Zempilas. Carwyn Monck

State PoliticsCommentsPremium‘Time’s right’: Zempilas declares Libs can win next election

Liberal leader Basil Zempilas has declared the ‘time is right’ for his style of leadership, vowing his team can win in 2029 while also taking a veiled swipe at some in his own party. 

Jessica Page

Andrew Hastie is still openly still harbouring leadership ambitions.

Federal PoliticsCommentsAndrew Hastie admits he still harbours leadership ambitions

Andrew Hastie is openly still harbouring leadership ambitions and says he’s gaining the experience needed to run a party from Western Australia.

Katina Curtis

Leader of the opposition Sussan Ley arrives in Kununurra to meet with leaders from the Waringarri Aboriginal Corporation.

Federal PoliticsCommentsLey accuses Albo of shying away from Indigenous Australians

Opposition Leader slams Albanese’s lack of action for Indigenous Australians since the failed Voice to Parliament, saying he has shied away from the issue since the failed referendum.

Oliver Lane

Opposition leader Sussan Ley at NextGen Skills Training Campus in Forrestfield.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumSussan Ley ‘agnostic’ on gender quotas for Liberals

The Federal Opposition says she is ‘agnostic’ on how her party recoups its standing with women in Western Australia, stopping short of backing gender quotas.

Oliver Lane

WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas and Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley.

state politicsCommentsPremiumNew Liberal leaders fire their first shot at AUKUS deadline

They arguably have the two toughest jobs in Australian politics right now, but Sussan Ley and Basil Zempilas were keen to join forces against a common enemy and warned that WA is moving too slow on AUKUS.

Jessica Page

It’s about the WA economy stupid! Illustration: Don Lindsay

opinion
opinion
Sussan LeyComments
opinion
How WA is key to boosting productivity in Australia

Western Australia is not just vital to our national economy, it is the engine room of Australia’s prosperity.

Sussan Ley

Federal Opposition leader Sussan Ley will meet with Basil Zempilas in Perth on Monday.

LiberalCommentsPremiumLiberal leaders to discuss why WA has turned back on party

Sussan Ley will meet with Basil Zempilas in Perth on Monday for fresh talks as Liberals digest why West Australians have turned their backs on the once-strong party.

Joe Spagnolo

The Liberal Party's Sussan Ley and Michaelia Cash with Curtin candidate Tom White in Scarborough today.

Federal PoliticsCommentsWA Liberals reluctant on idea of gender quotas

The WA Liberal Party is resisting implementing quotas for recruiting more women, as insiders insist the approach it took over the past three years worked at recent elections.

Katina Curtis