Willmott rules out bid for Cottesloe

Chamber of Commerce and Industry of WA chief executive Deidre Willmott will not be a contender for Liberal Party endorsement for the Legislative Assembly seat of Cottesloe when the incumbent, former premier Colin Barnett, quits politics.

“I won’t be looking to go into parliament,” Ms Willmott told Business News.

Ms Willmott, who had been considered a frontrunner if she sought the nomination, was the party’s candidate for the blue ribbon seat in 2008 following Mr Barnett’s decision, at the time, to retire.

However, he shelved those plans when Troy Buswell stepped down as leader following a number of indiscretions. Labor premier Alan Carpenter called a snap poll and Ms Willmott relinquished the Liberal candidacy, with Mr Barnett resuming leadership of the party he took to electoral defeat in 2005.

The 2008 poll was more favourable to the Liberals, however, and Mr Barnett served as premier for almost eight and a half years; but is now on the backbench following his government’s election defeat in March.

Recent premiers who have lost government, such as Richard Court (Liberal) and Mr Carpenter have resigned early in the following term. To this point, however, Mr Barnett has said only that he intends to remain in politics.

Ms Willmott, who has previously served as chief of staff to both Mr Court and Mr Barnett as premier, said she was enjoying her role at the CCI and looking forward to working with the new Labor government of Premier Mark McGowan.

She said the Liberal Party needed a long-term commitment from its elected representatives, particularly given the party had only 13 out of the 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly.

“They (Liberals) have a huge rebuilding task and will require very significant contributions from the next member for Cottesloe, who must be prepared to serve the electorate for at least 12 to 16 years,” Ms Willmott said.

“I think the local branches are looking for someone who could be a future senior minister or leader.”

There has been speculation that former corrective services minister Joe Francis, who lost his seat of Jandakot, would be a contender for Cottesloe, adding a touch of aggression to the Liberal ranks. But some party members believe Mr Barnett’s successor should be a local.

Senior Uber executive Tom White has also been named as a strong contender.

Cottesloe has had only three members since the seat was first contested in 1950. Former football star Ross Hutchinson (later knighted) held it until 1977, serving as both a minister and speaker of the assembly. Former minister and party leader Bill Hassell was the second member, retiring in 1990, followed by Mr Barnett.