Exmouth president eyes Pilbara seat for Libs

Exmouth shire president Matthew Niikkula will square off against Perth solicitor Amanda Kailis for Liberal pre-selection in the Pilbara.

The two-horse race was confirmed by the WA Liberal Party following closure of nominations last Wednesday.

The traditional Labor seat is held on a 20.4 per cent margin by second-term MP Kevin Michel, who unseated former WA Nationals leader Brendon Grylls in 2017.

The Liberals have been relegated to distant third in the Pilbara since Mr Grylls’ move to the seat in 2013.

But the party senses a chance to become the prominent conservative force again as questions linger about the WA Nationals’ search for a strong representative.

Mr Niikkula was comfortably elected Exmouth shire president in last year’s local government ballot, having previously served as president from 2017 to 2021 following a tumultuous period for the local government.

He is also the owner of the town’s Betta Electrical franchise and a member of the local Freemasons chapter.

Ms Kailis is a lawyer and a member of the high profile Kailis family, whose fortunes stem from their Exmouth Gulf fishing operations.

Ms Kailis herself does not reside in the Pilbara electorate.

Both candidates have strong affiliations with Exmouth where the bulk of the Pilbara’s population holidays.

Working against them will be the fact the majority of the voter base for the seat is in Karratha where Mr Michel resides, and the addition of Tom Price which has tended to strongly back Labor.

Exmouth itself has leant toward the WA Nationals in recent elections.

The town was previously part of the North West Central electorate, which was abolished in last year’s electoral boundary redraw.

Ben Cornel, Erit David, James Fairbarn, and City of Stirling councillor Joe Ferrante have each nominated for the Mount Lawley electorate, where incumbent Labor MP Simon Millman is retiring.