Libby Mettam remains ‘absolutely’ confident in her leadership after Brian Burke revelations hit Liberals

Libby Mettam remains “absolutely” confident in her leadership and her authority over her Liberal colleagues as she attempts to move on from the wreckage of damaging revelations senior members of her team engaged with fallen Labor premier Brian Burke. In an exclusive interview, Ms Mettam insisted the self-inflicted fiasco had not caused irreparable damage to her relationship with Dr Thomas and his Upper House colleague Tjorn Sibma. She also vowed to continue pursuing the Cook Government over Mr Burke’s links to taxpayer-funded grants he helped secure for struggling homebuilders and the live events industry, despite the line of attack exploding into a major scandal for her own party this week. The West Australian revealed on Monday that Dr Thomas asked Mr Burke to secure a meeting for him with Perth businessman John Poynton in January, a request that followed a series of earlier phone calls spanning six months. Dr Thomas then failed to disclose his interactions with the political fixer to Ms Mettam for weeks, despite her public statement at the start of February that none of her colleagues had any dealings with Mr Burke. It then emerged that Mr Sibma, last Friday, responded to an email sent by Mr Burke to all State MPs in which he warned Ms Mettam’s demonisation of him risked blowing up in her face. In that response, Mr Sibma wrote the 77-year-old was one of his constituents and, therefore, welcome to contact him to discuss “electoral, legislative or policy” matters. Ms Mettam said she had “acted swiftly” in demanding Dr Thomas resign from her frontbench on Tuesday – although the punishment’s credibility was questioned when he returned in a diminished capacity three days later. Defending the decision to allow Dr Thomas to retain the shadow portfolios of energy and industrial relations, she said the punishment – which has slashed $70,000 off his salary – was appropriate. “We are a small team, and it is important that I also best utilise that team going forward,” Ms Mettam said. “I believe that his demotion from those senior roles of leader of the house, deputy (leader) and the shadow treasury portfolio is a proportionate response given my options.” While Mr Sibma had exercised “poor judgement”, Ms Mettam said his “officious response” to Mr Burke did not merit trimming his responsibilities. Ms Mettam said the saga had not rocked her belief in her colleagues – nor put her own leadership on shaky ground. “I wouldn’t undertake this job if I didn’t believe I had the support of my team,” she said. “There is no doubt that this week has been a significant challenge, but imagine if these issues surrounding Brian Burke and the member of my team were raised during an election campaign and the impact that could have had on candidates trying to win their seats. “I’m relaxed about the decision I’ve made… I don’t shy away from it at all.” Attempting to draw a line under the matter, Ms Mettam said West Australians had far more pressing concerns. “I’ve dealt with this issue so quickly and swiftly because in coming into the leadership role, I was committed to making tough decisions and keeping internal matters out of the spotlight,” she said. “I’m very aware that this sideshow is only that (a sideshow) when you compare it to the 400,000 households in WA struggling to put food on the table. “The health workers in our hospital system who are doing more with less, the police on the beat who do not feel that this Government backs them up.” After earlier this week opening the door to Liberal candidates adopting spokesperson roles at the 2025 election, Ms Mettam said that would be decided closer to the ballot. “But, of course, these are unprecedented times,” she said. “It’s not about this last week but more about the challenge I have with so few parliamentary members in the house as well as a significantly resourced Labor party.” Cottesloe candidate Sandra Brewer and presumptive Churchlands challenger Basil Zempilas – who is yet to be officially endorsed but is the only preselection contestant – loom as two of those spokespeople, with surprise South Perth selection lawyer Bronwyn Waugh potentially a third. Ms Mettam said she was “enthused” about the potential contribution of all three. She insisted she did not harbour concerns that Mr Zempilas – an employee of Seven West Media – was a stalking horse. “Absolutely not,” she said. “He will be an asset to the team and has ruled out (challenging) – but also I feel confident in my own leadership.” Ms Mettam said she had a “positive relationship” with Mr Zempilas, the Perth Lord Mayor, and had “only ever encouraged him” as he mulled a tilt at state politics. “We need as many good candidates as possible to present as an alternative to a Labor Government who’ve lost their way,” she said.