Lean Lib team

The lean state of the Liberal Party in Western Australia following its February election loss is reflected in the small group of people wielding influence in the party.

New Opposition leader Matt Birney is entitled to only about 10 staff, in part because the Nationals get one-third of the funding reserved for the ‘Opposition’.

A distinctive policy agenda is yet to emerge from Mr Birney, which complicates the task of identifying the influential advisers behind the scenes.

However, WA Business News has been told Mr Birney’s closest adviser is Keetha Wilkinson, his former electorate officer and current personal assistant.

They are long-term friends with a close and trusting relationship and it is expected Ms Wilkinson will continue working after her current pregnancy.

Mr Birney’s chief of staff is Russell Stranger, who has previously worked as an adviser with former premier Richard Court and current senator, David Johnston.

In the lay party, the key people include 33-year-old state director Paul Everingham, who moved to Perth two years ago to take up his current position.

Another key player is the low-profile Mathias Cormann, who holds the post of senior vice-president.

Mr Everingham and Mr Cormann were believed to be among the small group of advisers who ran the recent state election campaign.

Since migrating to Australia in 1996, Mr Cormann’s employers have included Senator Chris Ellison, who is also a major behind-the-scenes influence in the party along with fellow senator Ian Campbell.

The current party president is Danielle Blain, who is well-known in the business community as a non-executive director of Schaffer Corporation and as the former managing director of its subsidiary Gosh Leather.

Some of the Liberal Party’s main backers are rewarded with direct access to the leadership team, giving them an opportunity to influence decision making and policy setting if they choose.

The big financial backers include property developer and reputed multi-millionaire Terry Jackson, who owns Menzies House in Murray Street, West Perth, and provides space rent free to the party.

Mr Jackson, who made his fortune from Kreepy Krawly pool cleaning equipment, is also regularly listed as a direct financial contributor to the party.

Another influential group is the party’s fund-raising arm, the 500 Club, which is currently chaired by Peter Middleton.

Former Liberal party kingmaker, Noel Crichton-Browne, is the source of constant speculation.

It is clear that Mr Crichton-Browne has lost his influence in the lay party but some observers believe he exerts continued influence through prominent members of the parliamentary party.

ADVISERS (LIB)

•           Keetha Wilkinson

            Matt Birney’s personal assistant.

•           Russell Stranger

            Matt Birney’s chief of staff.

•           Paul Everingham

            State Director, Liberal Party. 

•           Danielle Blain

            State President, Liberal Party. 

•           Mathias Cormann

            Senior Vice-President, Liberal Party. 

•           Noel Crichton-Browne

            Party powerbroker.