The Liberal Party of WA has officially elected Caroline Di Russo as its new party president, completing what has been described as a historic first all-female leadership team in Australia.
Key points:
- Caroline Di Russo is the WA Liberal party's new president
- Her appointment confirms an all-female leadership team for the party
- New leader Libby Mettam praised her "drive and commitment"
The announcement was made at the party's state conference on Saturday morning.
It comes after a big week in state politics which saw Libby Mettam elected as WA Liberal leader unopposed on Monday.
Ms Di Russo was also elected unopposed, after acting in the role since early November when her predecessor Richard Wilson quit the position after 13 months.
Her election has been celebrated as completing the Liberal party's first all-female leadership team.
"It'll be the first one in WA and the first one in the country," Ms Di Russo said.
She becomes the third female state president in the party's history.
"As far as women presidents go, I'm number three and the two who have gone before me — I'm so grateful for their support," she said.
"They've been absolutely fabulous."
"We have plenty of work to do – but I know we have a great leadership team in place ready to build a better future for Western Australia.
"We need to refine our processes and refine the way that we operate so that the party is fit for purpose."
Move to boost female numbers
Ms Mettam congratulated Ms Di Russo, saying female-led representation would be vital in recouping its female supporter base ahead of the next state election.
"The last two reviews of the federal election and state election have illustrated that we do need to do much more to bring women back to the Liberal party," Ms Mettam told the media after the party room vote.
WA federal Liberal leader Michaelia Cash congratulated Ms Di Russo, citing her energy and intellect as crucial for the party's management in the next few years.
"This is an historic moment for the party and I'm proud to be part of the first all-women leadership team — a team put in place purely on merit."
New WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam shared her support alongside Senator Cash ahead of the party room vote Saturday morning.
"I am confident her drive, commitment and staunch Liberal values will ensure the party goes from strength to strength over the coming years," Ms Mettam said.
Addressing the state council meeting, Ms Mettam said she's committed to building a party that better represents all people, their values and their aspirations.
Responding to concerns about the influence of remaining factional power brokers within the party, Ms Mettam said she had taken decisive action.
"I've very clearly set a line in the sand when it comes to the internal issues of the Liberal party," she said.
"From my perspective, talking about the internal issues of the Liberal party is dead to me."
"I have taken strong action as the new parliamentary leader in relation to this.
"We are a small team. Those issues have been acknowledged and I'm now focused on rebuilding the parliamentary Liberal party and our support across the state."
She said there was a need to remind people of the true values of the party for people who have worked hard and want to get ahead.
The party's shadow cabinet will be announced next week.
'Fantastic place to be'
New Deputy Liberal leader Steve Thomas said there was a positive vibe in the party.
"There's a sense of optimism that we're going forward, there's a sense of optimism that we can improve, be a genuine opposition and hold the government to account," he said.
"That's a fantastic place to be right now two years out from the election.
"The reality is that this is now about the performance of us as MPs and the parliamentary team."
"How we finish here will be determined by how good we are and I think there's a great optimism that you'll see us lift, that you'll see us genuinely hold the government to account, and that you'll see some policies come out over the next couple of years that the Liberal Party can be proud of.
"If we do all of that, it doesn't matter what else happens, we have to perform, we have to lift, and there's an optimism within the team that we can do that."
No apology from Goiran
Controversial MP Nick Goiran says Ms Mettam has his full support.
"Libby's the leader," he said.
"Whoever the leader is has my 100 per cent, unconditional, unequivocal support.
"That's been the case whether the leader's been Barnett, Nahan, Harvey, Kirkup, Honey, now Mettam.
"It's a very simple personal political philosophy of mine — whoever is the leader, you give them 100 per cent support.
Ms Mettam has asked Mr Goiran to apologise for his role in a factional group known as "The Clan".
Leaked messages from a WhatsApp group used by members of the group contained boasts about branch stacking.
But Mr Goiran said he would never apologise.
"With respect to the suggestion there would be an apology given, I've made it very clear that that will never happen," he said.
"People are entitled to put in a complaint … and somebody did.
"My matter was investigated at length for nine months, an in-depth investigation, and the outcome was a decision that it was wholly unsubstantiated and dismissed.
"Not my words, that's the decision that's been made.
"Now if you were to be subject to a complaint and the outcome was that it was wholly unsubstantiated and dismissed, because you can't actually get a better outcome than that, would you apologise? Of course you wouldn't.
"It would make a mockery of the whole system, it would undermine the whole process.
"So that is never never going to happen, and I'm absolutely ok with that."
Mr Goiran says he intends to stand at the next election.