First round of Liberal preselection nominations close

The first round of Liberal Party preselection nominations has closed ahead of the 2025 state and federal elections, with two MPs facing internal challenges for their positions.

Two party members – Sandra Brewer and Richard Evans – have officially nominated for preselection in David Honey’s coastal seat of Cottesloe, while a showdown looms between former member for Stirling Vince Connelly and incumbent Ian Goodenough in the federal seat of Moore.

Liberal Party WA leader Libby Mettam and federal MPs Andrew Hastie, Melissa Price and Rick Wilson have each nominated unopposed in their respective seats of Vasse, Canning, Durack and O’Connor.

Round one of nominations applied only to Western Australian seats won at the last state and federal elections. 

Preselection battles were widely anticipated in both Cottesloe and Moore.

A Cottesloe showdown has been on the cards since Ms Brewer temporarily stood aside as executive director at the WA branch of the Property Council in December to focus on a campaign, while entertainment lawyer Mr Evans flagged his intention to join the race the same month.

The contest for preselection in Moore will be between two experienced political figures, with Mr Goodenough occupying the seat since 2013 and Mr Connelly having previously served a term as the federal member for the now abolished seat of Stirling.

Mr Connelly is chief executive of RSLWA and will take unpaid leave from the role while the preselection is decided.

It will be Mr Connelly’s second tilt at Moore, having previously nominated for preselection ahead of the 2022 federal election.

A third candidate, Matt Moran, was floated as an option in Moore but has since nominated in Julie Bishop’s former seat of Curtin.

Liberal preselection nominations have been staggered ahead of the 2025 elections, with preselections in Kalgoorlie, Riverton, Dawesville, South Perth, Jandakot, Bateman, Curtin and Forrest to close on January 31.

City of South Perth Mayor Greg Milner and barrister Hayley Cormann are understood to be among the contenders weighing up a run in South Perth.

Mr Moran’s run at Curtin will put him up against former Uber South Korea boss Tom White.

City of Canning Deputy Mayor Amanda Spencer-Teo intends to nominate in Riverton.

Preselection nominations for Murray-Wellington, Forrestfield, Mount Lawley, the Senate and the state’s Legislative Council close on February 14.

Voting will shift from multi-member regions in the state’s upper house to a state-wide ballot in 2025, and the party has committed to preference those preselected number one in the now-abolished upper house electoral districts with a top-six spot on the ballot paper.

Donna Faragher’s name will not appear, with the long-serving upper house MP announcing her retirement ahead of 2025.

Anthony Spagnolo, who recently relocated to the Perth Hills and has a long history with the party at both state and federal levels, is a contender for Ms Faragher’s place on the ballot paper.  

Party stalwart Peter Collier has also previously stated his intention to retire from politics at the election.

Preselection nominations close in Hillarys, Carine, Scarborough, Nedlands, Churchlands and Tangney on February 28.

Business News understands City of Canning Mayor Patrick Hall intends to nominate for a run at the federal seat of Tangney.

In Nedlands, City of Perth councillor Brent Fleeton and Elizabeth Court – the niece and granddaughter of former premiers Richard and Sir Charles – are believed to be among those weighing up a run.

Across the electoral boundary, anticipation is growing around City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas’ mooted run at Churchlands. 

Mr Zempilas would need to join the party before the end of the month if he intends to prenominate for a electoral tilt at the seat currently held by Labor’s Christine Tonkin.