Federal Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has escalated his critique of Western Australian opposition leader Basil Zempilas, suggesting that the state leader has conceded defeat in the Secret Harbour by-election before a single vote has been counted, according to reports. The internal fracture has drawn a sharp response from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who stated that the state Liberals are “running dead” in the Perth southern electorate and effectively folding into One Nation.
Hastie Warns Against Raising the White Flag
Speaking on the ABC’s 7.30 program, Andrew Hastie stated that information from both Labor and Liberal representatives indicated One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen was currently ahead in the contest. Mr Hastie rejected the premise put forward by Basil Zempilas that a Labor loss in Secret Harbour would constitute a victory for the Liberals even if they failed to secure the seat. “This is a state election contested on state issues, and I don’t accept this idea that a win for One Nation is a win for the Liberal Party,” Mr Hastie said, adding that the party should be fighting for every single vote.
Mr Hastie also pointed to the precedent of the 2021 state election, referencing comments made by former state Liberal leader Zak Kirkup three weeks prior to a decisive electoral defeat where he stated he did not expect to win. “The lesson from the 2021 state election is you don’t wave the white flag,” Mr Hastie said, asserting that voters sense weakness and will move toward a stronger opponent if weakness is signaled. Additional reporting from The Australian Financial Review noted that Mr Hastie previously urged Liberal branches as early as January to prepare for an inevitable by-election during an 11-year Labor government.
Did You Know?
Thousands of local Secret Harbour ballots were already cast through postal and early in-person voting before major party figures publicly clashed over campaign momentum in the national press.
Prime Minister Albanese and State Opponents Weigh In
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking on 102.5 ABC Perth, seized on the widening division within the Liberal camp. “The Libs are running dead in Secret Harbour. Let’s get real here,” Mr Albanese said, defending his own decision not to campaign for Labor candidate Georgia Tree by noting he never campaigns in by-elections. The Prime Minister’s remarks followed a public jab by Mr Zempilas, who had displayed a “Where’s Albo?” sign mocking the Prime Minister’s absence from the electorate.
Mr Zempilas strongly denied that the state opposition was running dead, dismissing the notion as a recycled Labor talking point. “We have worked our backsides off down here,” Mr Zempilas said, adding that political disagreements are normal and that he was not bothered by internal friction. Meanwhile, One Nation WA leader Rod Caddies claimed Mr Hastie’s comments stemmed from apprehension regarding his own federal seat of Canning, while Labor candidate Georgia Tree noted that her primary opposition on the ground appeared to be One Nation rather than the Liberals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What triggered the dispute between Andrew Hastie and Basil Zempilas?
The disagreement centers on the Secret Harbour by-election strategy, with Mr Hastie criticizing Mr Zempilas for suggesting that a Labor loss would be a win for the Liberals even without securing the seat, and arguing that the party should fight actively for every vote.
What did Prime Minister Anthony Albanese say about the Liberals?
Mr Albanese stated that the Liberals were “running dead” in Secret Harbour and alleged that Mr Zempilas was promoting another political party instead of trying to win the by-election.
How did Basil Zempilas respond to the criticism?
Mr Zempilas denied that the state Liberals were running a soft campaign, characterizing the accusations as recycled Labor talking points that did not reflect the hard work done on the ground by his team.
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