WA heads to polls – Who are the Greek Australian contenders
Source: NEOS KOSMOS
The countdown is on for the Saturday 8 March state election in Western Australia, with Labor under Roger Cook expected to win, but tipped to lose its upper house majority and the Liberals eyeing significant gains compared to the 2021 comfortable win driven by the popularity of the then premier Mark McGowan.
Labor had then won 53 of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly, with the Liberals reduced to two elected members.
While Premier Roger Cook does not enjoy McGowan’s popularity, his approval rating is higher than the Liberal leader’s Libby Mettam, and Labor is ahead on 56% to the Liberals’ 44% on a two-party preferred basis.
The state election is not short of Greek Australian candidates* in the opposition and smaller parties.
They include Basil Zempilas, the high-profile Perth mayor and media personality running as the Liberal candidate in Churchlands, Steve Kefalinos contending with One Nation for the Vasse seat, Nationals’ candidate for Pilbara, Amanda Kailis, and Michael Kannis running for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party in Joondalup.
Since confirming his run for parliament in January 2024, Zempilas has been labelled by insiders as a State Liberal leader in waiting.
The Greek Australian has however maintained his loyalty to Libby Mettam, a former journalist who took over the WA Liberal party leadership after overthrowing David Honey.
“I think I can win,” Zempilas told the ABC last week.
“I don’t take it for granted. I’m working right until the line, and that is what is expected of every candidate.
“It will be tight. Labor have thrown the kitchen sink at me.”
He is running against Labor’s current MP Christine Tonkin for the Churchlands seat.
Meanwhile, Mettam has no plan to throw in the towel despite being aware of the tough odds her party is running against.
“My focus is on winning,” she told the West Australian.
With a federal election on the horizon, all eyes are set on the WA state election results for signs on the political momentum shaping for both major parties.
While WA’s mining-driven economy is still hailed as the country’s strongest, cost-of-living pressures are dominating the debate ahead of this state election, one that federal leaders are also watching closely.
*Greek Australian candidates have been identified based on their surnames as found on the WA state election candidate lists. If you believe a name should or should not be on this list, contact editor@neoskosmos.com.au
The original article: belongs to NEOS KOSMOS .
