Satterley weighs in on Brewer preselection

Nigel Satterley has weighed in on Sandra Brewer’s recent preselection for the state Liberal Party, saying her endorsement would be the first test for the Liberals.

Speaking to Business News today, the state’s dominant land developer said he had quit the Liberal Party because they wouldn't apologise to women.

Mr Satterley was likely referring to Liberal MP Nick Goiran’s refusal to apologise over leaked messages from party powerbrokers known as 'the clan' that were derogatory to women.

Mr Satterley said the clan, comprising a group of Liberal Party of WA members including Mr Goiran and Peter Collier, were still in control of the party.

Former Property Council of Australia WA executive director Sandra Brewer on Saturday toppled David Honey to be preselected for the state seat of Cottesloe.

Ms Brewer’s recommendation as the Liberal candidate for the seat in the 2025 state election will be taken to the party’s state council on March 2.

“I’m hoping that Sandra Brewer gets endorsed through the state council, which is controlled by the clan,” Mr Satterley said.

“If they’re going to change the place, this is the first test.”

It is understood that members of the clan did not support Dr Honey’s win in Cottesloe, which was followed by his appointment to the Liberal leadership in 2021.

Dr Honey was replaced as leader of the party last year by Libby Mettam.

Mr Satterley said Ms Brewer had strong support among the Liberal Party members in the seat of Cottesloe. 

He described the actions of the clan as “disgraceful”.

“The media haven’t covered fully the state of the Liberal Party, which is sad,” he said.

When asked about Basil Zempilas’s recent announcement that he would seek Liberal preselection for the seat of Churchlands, Mr Satterley said he wished him well.

“I’ve known Basil probably since he was 10 years of age, maybe longer, and the family,” he said.

“We’ve had the private discussions, and he wants to go into politics.

“He’s a big boy and he’s not dumb, but he’s never run a big business, and he’s never dealt with people like the clan.

“He’s serious about moving in, [it would be a] major pay cut for him.”

Mr Satterley added that he wanted a “constructive opposition”.

“Your mum and dad and you would be saying ‘we want a constructive opposition, a good hard working opposition’,” he said.

“And if you ask Premier Cook, that's what he would want, [former] premier McGowan, we want good people in parliament making things better for us, a better health service, better transport, better education.”

Mr Satterley’s political donations were recently revealed, with his Satterley Property Group giving more than $50,000 to state and federal Labor, and $100 to the Liberal Party of WA.

When asked about the rationale behind the donations, Mr Satterley replied "it’s a democratic world”.

“That’s the law now. If you donate it’s recorded, down to the last dollar,” he said.

"We’re happy to be on the record.”