Love disappointed in Beard defection

State opposition leader Shane Love has expressed disappointment in the bombshell defection of North West Central MP Merome Beard from the WA Nationals to the Liberal Party.

Carnarvon local Ms Beard resigned from the party late on Tuesday, just over a year since her by-election victory for the Nationals following last year’s resignation of Vince Catania.

The move is a blow for the regionally focused Nationals, with Ms Beard’s electorate spanning more than 820,000 square kilometres in the Mining and Pastoral region of WA

Ms Beard has indicated her intention to join the WA Liberal Party, giving each party three seats in the Legislative Assembly and casting questions over the opposition leadership.

"I have reached the view that the Liberal Party will be at the forefront of shaping a government that will deliver the change that WA needs," she said in a statement.

"Sometimes you need to make the hard and uncomfortable decisions if you believe they are in the best interests of your constituents and the state.

"That is why I am now seeking to join the Liberal team, which I will do so by following the party's usual processes."

Ms Beard endorsed WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam, who in turn said Ms Beard would be a welcome addition to the party room. 

"I welcome the Member for North West Central’s decision to join the WA Liberal Party," Ms Mettam said. 

"Merome is a committed local businesswoman and a strong representative for the North West Central electorate whose values align closely to those of the Liberal Party.

"She is a welcome addition whom I know will make a valuable contribution to our team."

Ms Mettam said discussions over the opposition leadership were ongoing, but that her party remained committed to its alliance with the Nationals. 

Mr Love said it was disappointing that an MP elected under the Nationals banner would no longer represent the party in the parliament.

“This evening at 7pm I received notification from the Member for North West Central Ms Merome Beard MLA of her resignation from The Nationals WA,” he said.

“Just over a year ago, dedicated members of The Nationals WA from all corners of the state worked tirelessly, raised funds, and contributed significantly to elect Ms Beard as a member of the state parliament under The Nationals WA banner.

“Tonight, I share their disappointment. The Nationals WA remains committed to the people of the North West and ensuring the Cook Labor government is removed from power in 2025.”

Ms Beard’s defection to the WA Liberals could result in a showdown with Mr Love at the 2025 state election, after a review of WA’s electoral boundaries proposed their electoral districts of North West Central and Moore be merged into one seat.

The amalgamated Mid West electorate would cover almost half the area of Ms Beard’s current seat, running from Gingin to Coral Bay.

Should it go ahead the change would come into effect at the same election as Labor’s reform to Legislative Council voting, which created a statewide electorate in the Upper House.

Legislative Council voting was previously split across six electoral areas, a system which guaranteed regional representation in the upper house.

Ms Beard’s defection comes a day after Mr Love told 6PR’s Gary Adshead that the party planned to open an electorate office in Bateman with the intention of putting forward city-based candidates in 2025.  

Mr Catania, Ms Beard’s predecessor in the electorate, defected from the WA Labor to The Nationals in 2009.