The former campaign manager for Liberal candidate Basil Zempilas has apologised over secret leaked polling that undermined the leadership of WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam. Cam Sinclair has also stepped aside from his role on Mr Zempilas's Churchlands campaign team. The WA Liberals are now hoping to put the saga behind them, as they reach the end of an arduous parliamentary term.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00The final sitting day of Parliament feels a lot like the last day of school.
00:07You know, it's like leavers.
00:09For the six opposition MPs, it marks the end of four years that felt like an eternity.
00:15It has certainly been a challenging period, but it's also a privilege to be in Parliament.
00:21After a humiliating election wipeout in 2021 left the Liberals with just two lower house MPs,
00:28the party has been trying to rebuild.
00:31A task made even more difficult this week,
00:34after secret polling designed to undermine leader Libby Metham was leaked to media.
00:40A little bit disappointing, it really was.
00:43It's been revealed the polling, which spruced the Liberal Party's enhanced chances
00:47under the leadership of candidate Basil Zemplis,
00:50was commissioned by Mr Zemplis' former mayoral campaign manager Cam Sinclair,
00:55whose marketing agency is also employed by Liberal Party HQ.
01:00Ms Metham raising concerns about his ongoing contract.
01:04The Liberal Party's contract with Cam Sinclair sits with the State Director.
01:10It is the Liberal Party and the State Director that need to provide some assurance
01:15that going forward there is confidence in that contract.
01:19Mr Sinclair has now apologised for his error of judgement
01:23and failure to consider the conflict of interest
01:26when he facilitated this polling on behalf of a mystery client.
01:30The party's State Director, Simon Morgan, has told the ABC
01:33he had nothing to do with the polling and still hasn't seen it.
01:37The Liberal saga providing endless ammunition for Labor.
01:41Don't let the crayons fool you.
01:44It talks about the John Kerry effect.
01:50And through these incredible graphs it says we love John Kerry.
01:57Several long-serving MPs won't be returning after the March state election.
02:02I genuinely wish you the best as the parliamentary term draws to a close.
02:07Aren't we so very lucky to have trod these halls together
02:10with a shared purpose of making our state the best place to live and work.
02:15Among them David Templeman, his famous end-of-year ditty,
02:18this time a swan song.
02:20Thank you for your friendship and kindness,
02:24but screw you guys I'm going home.