Western Australia's Deputy Liberal Leader Libby Mettam says she has the numbers to replace party leader David Honey but the pair insists there is no "bad blood" between them.
Key points:
- Libby Mettam is challenging David Honey for the Liberal party leadership
- A party room meeting will be held on Monday morning to decide the matter
- Dr Honey says that, regardless of the outcome, they will continue to work well together
Dr Honey has called a party room meeting for 11am on Monday after Ms Mettam wrote to him yesterday outlining her intention to challenge him for the role.
“I would not be undertaking such a significant move if I did not believe I had the broad support of the Liberal party," Ms Mettam said.
"But, in saying that, it is ultimately up to my colleagues to give this some careful consideration over the weekend and I respect their decision."
Dr Honey, the member for Cottesloe, said it would be "sheer speculation" to make any assumptions before the meeting was held on Monday.
"I think it is presumptuous for anyone to assume they have the support of their parliamentary colleagues," he said.
"The leadership is the gift of the parliamentary party and they will decide that at the meeting on Monday."
Pair insists there is no animosity
Dr Honey said he respects and admires Ms Mettam — the only other Liberal member in Western Australia's lower house — and insisted they would continue to work well together.
"I hold Libby in high regard. Libby and I have a great working relationship and, regardless of what happens on Monday, Libby and I will continue to have a great working relationship," he said.
"Let’s be frank. There’s two of us in the lower house. We need to work together. We’ve been working together well. We’ll continue to work together, no matter the outcome.
"This is not a question of any animosity or any bad blood between Libby and myself."
Ms Mettam — the member for Vasse — said she was putting herself forward for the role because she has what it takes to make an impact ahead of the next election.
"I believe I have the connectedness, determination and drive to take the Liberal party to the 2025 election and I would not be putting up my hand if I did not believe I could make a significant difference," she said.
"I have a lot of respect for David Honey.
"This decision was not taken lightly and, regardless of the outcome next week, I intend to make every effort to work together cooperatively within the Liberal party team to hold the McGowan government to account."
Dr Honey and Ms Mettam will be competing for the votes of seven upper house colleagues at Monday's party room meeting.
Opposition leadership up for grabs
Ms Mettam revealed her intention to challenge Dr Honey for the leadership just hours after the shock resignation of the Nationals Leader and State Opposition Leader Mia Davies, who announced she would not contest the 2025 election.
In Western Australia, the state opposition is made up of an alliance of the National Party and the Liberal Party.
The Liberal Party were left with only two seats in the lower house after a crushing defeat at the 2021 state election, compared to the Nationals' four.
As a result, the Nationals were technically the state opposition and both parties formed the opposition alliance with Ms Davies as opposition leader.
The Nationals will vote for a new opposition leader next week.