Western Australian Liberal MP Andrew Hastie has intensified his criticism of his party's own WA leader, suggesting Basil Zempilas has conceded defeat in this weekend's Secret Harbour by-election before a single vote has been counted.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is in Perth but did not campaign in Secret Harbour, seized on the deepening rift between the Liberals, saying they were "running dead" in Secret Harbour and had basically folded into One Nation.
Speaking on the ABC's 7.30, Mr Hastie said it was clear, from what Labor and the Liberals told him, that One Nation candidate Luke Herdegen was ahead in the by-election, and the major parties needed to do much better in responding to the concerns of people in outer-metropolitan areas.
Mr Hastie said he disagreed with the premise, put forward repeatedly by WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, that a Labor loss in Secret Harbour would be a victory for the Liberals, even if they did not win.
"This is a state election contested on state issues, and I don't accept this idea that a win for One Nation is a win for the Liberal Party," Mr Hastie said.
"Basil Zempilas said that a win for One Nation would be an opportunity. I don't see that at all."
The by-election in Perth's south this weekend is widely viewed as One Nation's first test in WA after the party's surge in national polls.
'Voters sense weakness'
Mr Hastie then referenced comments by former state Liberal leader Zak Kirkup three weeks before the 2021 state election, where the opposition was decimated, that he did not expect to win.
"Voters sense weakness and they'll go to the strong horse if you signal weakness."
He said he did not agree with the state Liberals' political strategy in Secret Harbour and the message should be that they were fighting for every vote.
"I think we could have signalled to voters that we're fighting for them, we're fighting for a better deal for outer-metropolitan Western Australians," he said.
PM says Zempilas 'promoting' One Nation
The prime minister was interviewed on 102.5 ABC Perth this morning, when he continued the line of attack used by Premier Roger Cook to accuse the Liberals of giving up.
"The Libs are running dead in Secret Harbour. Let's get real here," Mr Albanese said.
Mr Zempilas yesterday mocked Mr Albanese for not going to Secret Harbour, with a Where's Wally-type sign which said: "Where's Albo?"
"He's not even trying to run the by-election. He's out there promoting another political party.
"I want my party to win. Does Basil? I don't think so."
The prime minister defended his decision not to campaign in Secret Harbour for Labor candidate Georgia Tree, saying he never campaigned in by-elections.
Zempilas hits back
Mr Zempilas denied he was running dead in the by-election and took a shot at Mr Hastie.
"What I know is what we've done, and that is not the case," Mr Zempilas said.
"It seems odd that a talking point of Labor's would be re-used by somebody else.
Asked if he and Mr Hastie were on the same team, Mr Zempilas said disagreements were part of politics and he was not bothered by it.
He also denounced as a "ridiculous claim" any suggestion he was running soft in the by-election because he did not want to offend Australia's richest person and One Nation backer Gina Rinehart.
"It is simply fanciful to suggest anything like that," he said.
One Nation's WA leader weighs in
One Nation's WA leader Rod Caddies said Mr Hastie's comments about Mr Zempilas were proof the former military officer saw the momentum behind Pauline Hanson's party as a serious threat to his own seat of Canning.
"We are gaining momentum as you see in Secret Harbour here," Mr Caddies told media on the campaign trial.
"I believe we've got a decent chance of winning this seat and that gives an indication of where we're sitting obviously within his [Mr Hastie's] electorate because it takes in some of that."
He disagreed with comments about the Liberals "running dead" in the by-election.
Labor's Secret Harbour candidate Georgia Tree disagreed, saying she felt the Liberals were not the key opponent in the poll.
"That's been clear when I've been door knocking and speaking to people, they have primarily wanted to vote Labor or One Nation," she said.
"At the moment I would rather be fighting the Liberals, that's for sure.
"But in general, it's irrelevant to me who my opponent is. I'm here to fight for Labor and for a Labor government, because I know that having a representative in the room is the best thing for my community."
