Western Australia’s Opposition coalition is in talks on leadership after a Nationals MP announced she was defecting to the Liberals.

November 1, 2023

West Australian Liberals say the defection of a Nationals MP to the party will not impact the coalition working relationship but does raise questions about the Opposition’s leadership.

Liberal leader Libby Mettam welcomed North West Central MP Merome Beard to the party following her resignation from the Nationals on Tuesday.

Ms Mettam confirmed that her party was in talks with the Nationals about the leadership of the Opposition, which is held by Nationals MP Shane Love.

The LNP coalition was hammered at the 2021 state election, with Liberal MPs winning just two seats of 59 in the lower house and the Nationals four.

But the move by Ms Beard will mean the Liberals and National holds an equal number of seats in the WA parliament’s lower house when it is finalised.

“Merome’s decision will inevitably raise questions around the leader of the opposition status,” Ms Mettam said on Wednesday.

“Those discussions are ongoing.”

She moved to douse speculation it could cause a rift in the WA Liberal-National coalition.

“The Liberals and the Nationals have a long history of working collaboratively in both opposition and in government and I expect that will continue going forward,” Ms Mettam said.

“In any political alliance, there is always compromise and change and Merome’s decision is not unprecedented.”

Premier Roger Cook said the Liberals faced a tough task if the party wanted to take the opposition leadership from the Nationals.

“If the Liberals want to be the actual formal leader of the opposition, they have to make out a case to the speaker for that to be the case,” he said.

“I’m not sure the reason why the speaker would make a decision about changing the leader of the opposition just because of equal numbers.”

He said the LNP was “chaotic, dysfunctional and riddled with conflict”.

“I don’t know how they’re going to move forward,” he said.

Mr Love said the National party was disappointed Ms Beard had resigned, but it remained focused on the job of holding the Labor government to account.

“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,” he said.

“I share their disappointment.

“The Nationals WA remains committed to the people of the northwest and ensuring the Cook Labor government is removed from power in 2025.”

Ms Beard confirmed she would apply to become a Liberal Party member and said her decision had been based on how she could best deliver the changes needed in her electorate.

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