Mike Nahan announced at 7pm last night his intention to step down as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, with a view to installing a new leader by the end of this week.
Mike Nahan announced at 7pm last night his intention to step down as leader of the Parliamentary Liberal Party, with a view to installing a new leader by the end of this week.
Dr Nahan, who became leader after the Liberals suffered a heavy loss at the March 2017 state election, said it was always his intention to review his position halfway through the current four-year parliamentary term.
He said recent media speculation about his leadership had prompted him to call for the issue to be resolved by the end of this week.
This followed the leaking of discussions with some of his colleagues about the timing of his resignation.
Dr Nahan, who will turn 69 on the 2nd of July, told ABC TV last night that he had not been forced out and added that, contrary to speculation, there was no agreement or plan for a successor.
There are four Liberal Party WA MPs who have been touted as candidates for the leadership.
Deputy leader and former deputy premier Liza Harvey is one prospect. The 52-year old was considered a likely successor to Colin Barnett after the 2017 election but reportedly declined to run for the job.
Shadow treasurer Dean Nalder is a likely candidate. His family has a long political pedigree and he has long been known to aspire to the top job in state politics.
The 53-year old, who has been a member of parliament since 2013, has already tried once to become leader.
In September 2016, he resigned from the ministry and sought to oust then premier Colin Barnett but lost the spill motion 31 votes to 16 votes.
A third possible candidate is 51-year old Sean L'Estrange, who has been member for Churchlands since 2013. He is a former school teacher, army officer and management consultant and is currently shadow minister for health.
David Honey, a former Alcoa executive, only joined parliament last year after the Cottesloe by-election. But he has been named as an outside chance, having served as state president of the Liberal Party.
Dr Nahan said the Liberals success in the Darling Range and Cottesloe by-elections and the recent federal election showed the party has done well and has a pathway to victory in 2021.
He will remain as the Member for Riverton.
Dr Nahan’s full statement is below:
I have today written to the Secretary of the Parliamentary Liberal Party Nick Goiran advising of my intention to resign the leadership of the Parliamentary Liberal Party.
I have asked Nick to call a special Party Room meeting in order that a ballot for the leadership can take place. This will allow my colleagues sufficient time to discuss the leadership with each other.
It was always my intention to rebuild the Liberal team, to give all leadership aspirants the opportunity to prove themselves and to then reconsider my position half way through this term, with the intention of handing hand over to a new team.
I had discussed the timing of such an announcement with some colleagues, and while it was anticipated the discussions would be kept confidential, the airing of leadership discussions in the media has prompted me to call for the issue to be resolved by the end of this week.
I would like to thank my colleagues for their support and efforts.
We have been a united team and a very effective Opposition.
We have exposed the many and real flaws of the McGowan Government and are in the process of presenting a credible and alternative Government in 2021.
Success in politics is, in the end, judged on election results.
Under my leadership, we have faced three elections and, against the odds, the expectations and the polls, won each election with swings toward us.
In Cottesloe, there was always an expectation the Liberal Party would win, but with a significantly reduced margin. We won with an increased margin.
The Darling Range by election was a real test for us. It was a by-election within a year of a general election and Darling Range was a Labor seat. The expectation was we would get beaten, and beaten badly.
Labor made the by-election about Mark McGowan and myself and the polls predicted we would lose, and lose badly. Again, we won with a 9.3 per cent swing toward us.
The Federal Election was largely due to Federal issues, however, in WA State issues, including infrastructure spending and cost of living, played a major role.
Again Mark McGowan was front and centre – he was the pin-up boy for Federal Labor in WA. Again, the pundits, the polls and the expectations were that the Liberals would lose. Again, we won with swings to us, we retained all of our seats and had three Senators elected.
If the Federal Election results were translated to a 2021 State Election, we would govern with a comfortable majority
Against the tide of political thought and expectations, the WA Liberal Opposition has done well.
These results show to a pathway to victory for the WA Liberal Party in 2021.
Darling Range was the prototype. The Federal election replicated that.
I will remain on as the Member for Riverton, where I will continue to work for the best interests of my constituents and I look forward to working with my successor and my colleagues to ensure a Liberal return to Government in 2021.
