No barrier to Zempilas job plan

A plan by City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas to hold his high-profile position while pursuing a run at state politics has the tick of approval under legislation and city accountability frameworks.

Mr Zempilas confirmed one of the worst-kept secrets in recent Western Australian political history over the weekend when he announced his intention to nominate for Liberal preselection in the Churchlands electorate.

His nomination was foreshadowed by Premier Roger Cook on Friday, who said the lord mayor would be turning his back on city ratepayers if he pursued a state political run.

However, on announcing his candidacy, Mr Zempilas said he intended to continue in the lord mayoral role until the election was called next year.

The move is at odds with that of Property Council of Australia WA executive director Sandra Brewer, who has stood aside from her role at the advocacy body as she pursues Liberal preselection in Cottesloe.

But it comes with recent precedent in the campaign for the federal seat of Pearce by former Wanneroo mayor Tracey Roberts, who held her local government position until elected in 2022. Planning Minister John Carey - an outspoken critic of Mr Zempilas - was mayor of the City of Vincent until the beginning of 2017, resigning months out from his election to state parliament as the member for Perth to avoid imposing by-election costs on ratepayers.

The City of Perth website has outlined the pathway through state legislation by which Mr Zempilas, or any other councillor with state political aspirations, can hold their job until the election is called.

“In the case that a current elected member of the City of Perth runs as a candidate in the state election, under the Local Government Act 1996, they may continue to hold their office on the City of Perth council and undertake the duties of that role until they are declared a member of the parliament,” it said.

It’s understood that, if preselected, Mr Zempilas intends to take a leave of absence after the election is called and return to his role at the city should his campaign be unsuccessful.

Election to the state parliament would result in automatic disqualification from the council.

The same policy would apply to councillor Brent Fleeton, who is understood to be interested in nominating for preselection in the Churchlands-adjacent electorate of Nedlands.

Neither potential candidate would be allowed to use their respective City of Perth title while campaigning, per the city’s code of conduct for council members, committee members and candidates.

City of South Perth Mayor Greg Milner, who intends to nominate for preselection in South Perth, would be subject to the same legislative framework.

Mr Zempilas, who is also an employee of Seven West Media, has garnered significant press attention since announcing his intention to run on Saturday.

Speaking on Sunday, Mr Cook played down the threat of the highest-profile Liberal candidate ahead of the 2025 state election.

“It’s not about celebrity status, it’s not about personalities,” he said.

“It’s about policies, and it’s about who is best to protect the WA economy, and WA jobs.”