WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam welcomes Merome Beard’s defection from uneasy alliance partner Nationals

WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam has welcomed the defection of Nationals MP Merome Beard to her party — a shock move that threatens to cause a deep rift in their alliance. It also opens the door to Ms Mettam to seize the mantle of Opposition Leader from Shane Love. The desertion comes at the same time as proposals for new electoral boundaries that would see the coastal parts of Ms Beard’s North West Central seat merged with Moore, held by Mr Love, so that a new seat can be created in Perth’s south-east. Ms Beard’s switch of allegiance means she is now poised to go head-to-head with him for an amalgamated Mid West seat stretching from Gingin to Coral Bay. It comes amid stalled negotiations to turn the Liberal-National alliance into a formal coalition. “I welcome the Member for North West Central’s decision to join the WA Liberal Party,” Ms Mettam said on Wednesday. “Merome is a committed local businesswoman and a strong representative for the North West Central electorate whose values align closely to those of the Liberal Party. “The Liberals and the Nationals have a long history of working collaboratively in both Opposition and in Government, and I expect that will continue going forward. “In any political alliance, there is always compromise and change, and Merome’s decision is not unprecedented.” In 2019, Liberal MP Ian Blaney defected to the Nationals, while in 2009 Ms Beard’s predecessor Vince Catania abandoned Labor in favour of the Nationals. “We have proven we can continue to work together despite past sitting members switching parties and I believe we will continue to work co-operatively to present as a strong alternative to the current out-of-touch Cook Labor Government,” Ms Mettam said. “I understand Merome’s decision will inevitably raise questions around the Leader of the Opposition status. “Those discussions are ongoing but the WA Liberal Party remains committed to the Opposition alliance.” In a brief statement issued late on Tuesday, Mr Love expressed his dismay. “This evening at 7pm, I received notification from the Member for North West Central Ms Merome Beard MLA of her resignation from the Nationals WA,” he said. “Just over a year ago, dedicated members of The Nationals WA from all corners of the State worked tirelessly, raised funds and contributed significantly to elect Ms Beard as a member of the State Parliament under the Nationals WA banner. “Tonight, I share their disappointment. “The Nationals WA remains committed to the people of the North West and ensuring the Cook Labor Government is removed from power in 2025.” Deputy WA Nationals leader Peter Rundle told The West Australian the party’s remaining MPs and the State executive would have to “regroup”. “At the end of the day our focus is on removing Roger Cook and his Labor Government out of power at the next election,” Mr Rundle said. “Our parliamentary team and the State executive will have to get together and work out how we go forward.” And he said he was “absolutely” disappointed Ms Beard’s switch had taken the focus off the Government’s failings in regional WA. Asked if the Nationals could retain the Opposition mantle, Mr Rundle said Speaker Michelle Roberts — who was appointed by the Labor Government — would “have a decision to make”. On Tuesday, the Nationals confirmed it would kick-off plans to run candidates in Perth seats, with the creation of a new branch in the Perth southern suburbs electorate of Bateman, holding a meeting on Wednesday night to elect key positions including branch president, vice president and secretary. Mr Love told The West the party had strong candidates and support in the Perth Hills, singling out Swan Hills — which will be renamed Walyunga under the proposed boundary change — as the next target. Premier Roger Cook predicted “more conflict” between the alliance partners. “This is just another example of the mess the coalition are in and you’re going to see more conflict coming in as the Nationals and the Liberals duke it out for seats in the next election,” he said. “It’s a sign of conflict within the coalition — they can’t even agree upon who should be the leader. We can’t risk the coalition ever getting into government because let’s face it, they’re a mess. “And the fact that that they’re now brawling over metropolitan seats is just an example of how bad that situation is. “I think what you’re going to see in the coming weeks and months is more chaos, more division, more dysfunction in the Opposition, and I think Western Australians are sick of that.” The Nationals have previously offered to make Ms Mettam Opposition Leader — provided the Liberals agree to a joint ticket in the Legislative Council that guarantees the country party at least three winnable seats. But at the Liberal annual State Conference at the weekend, the party agreed how it would pick the order of candidates in the top positions on the Upper House ticket, making no mention of the Nationals.