Jessica Page: Liberal party is beyond rock bottom and taking WA with it

The Liberal party thought it had hit rock bottom on 24 March 2021, when the headline declared WA a One Party State.

It hadn’t.

It’s primary vote is now lower, if this opinion poll is to be believed.

It can’t be ignored.

Credibility and political survival are on the line.

Basil Zempilas is no messiah. But a potential win in five seats is better than none.

This is the first poll that has tested the waters in the metropolitan seats that matter.

Some Liberals have assumed they will automatically swing back, at their peril.

This is a clear warning they might not.

A review of the 2021 state election concluded that the party was too focused on itself.

Then party-president Fay Duda called it an “embarrassing and humiliating”campaign.

“Members need to accept responsibility, stop talking about the past and start working together for the future,” she said.

The future is dire, if the Liberal party is humiliated again.

Admirers of Libby Mettam’s work ethic and determination to salvage a party reduced to a duo of MLA’s cannot dismiss this poll as a conspiracy.

It was not commissioned by Basil Zempilas or his backers, but by a business leader concerned opposing points of view are being drowned out by Labor’s overwhelming numbers.

The poll results were handed to her by people with skin in the game on March 8 next year, fearing another four years in the political wilderness.

They say they gave her fair warning of the “catastrophic” failure that could confront Liberal candidates at the polling booths.

Her response was one of defiance.

But in January 2023, the shoe was on the other foot.

Libby Mettam forced the leadership issue to a head at the expense of another Liberal and David Honey saw the writing on the wall, and stepped down.

“We have not been as effective as we should have been,” Ms Mettam said then.

“Change is required now to allow the Liberal Party to develop a strong, diverse, connected and competitive team.”

She should reflect on those words now.

The 10 MP’s with a vote in the partyroom have been at pains to remain loyal, but loyalty is threatening to strip the next generation of Liberals of any opportunity to be heard.

A leadership switch would be a gamble with high stakes.

The prospect of going backwards means the risk of doing nothing is bigger.