Basil Zempilas pledges ‘statesman’ poise as John Carey flags war of words will roll on as election nears

Senior Cook Government minister John Carey has flagged his bitter war of words with Basil Zempilas will grind on as the State election approaches, but the Liberal candidate promises to rise above it. After low-profile Labor MP David Scaife labelled the Perth Lord Mayor a “B-grade TV personality” on Friday, Mr Carey doubled down, telling talkback radio: “I’d give him an F for fail”. Mr Carey has now rejected the characterisation of such remarks as nasty and the suggestion he was a bit too focused on the endorsed candidate for Churchlands. “We are here to hold the WA Liberals to account,” Mr Carey told reporters on Sunday. “There’s an election coming up, and we want to make it very clear the difference between our Government and what we’re doing and what the WA Liberals are doing.” Mr Zempilas, a Seven West employee, said Mr Carey’s comments were not something he worried about. “But lots of others have had their say on the commentary over the last week and I think it’s pretty clear what the public think,” he told The West. “So I know whose side they’re on. “I think everyone in Parliament has a role to operate in a Statesman-like way and set an example. “If I am fortunate enough to be elected, my intention is to operate in a way that lifts the standard, not drags the standard down.” Mr Carey reiterated that Mr Zempilas was “opposing public primary schools, shutting down a women’s shelter”, referring to two bitter stand-offs between the City of Perth and State Government. At a press conference in April last year, the two men stood side-by-side announcing a new primary school would be built on land behind the WACA, which is currently a council-owned car park. At the time, Education Minister Tony Buti estimated “the unlock value” of the land was around $27 million, saying “that should be attractive to the City”. But the City has refused to hand it over, with the State Government suggesting only the removal of land-use restrictions - to improve the value of the remaining one hectare of the car park the City would retain - is on offer. Mr Carey’s other dig was in reference to Mr Zempilas reversing his plan to vote against allowing the Safe Night Space to operate in Northbridge - because a refusal would only be overruled by the State Government and delay its opening. The City of Perth turned the shelter’s previous home in East Perth back into a community centre just prior to Christmas, saying a State Government funding offer had come too late. The “middle of Northbridge” was not the right place for the women’s overnight refuge, Mr Zempilas reiterated in February, but added it was the only option on the table.