Former Western Australian Liberal leader Mike Nahan has sparked debate within his party by criticizing its failure to present a "coherent alternative" ahead of the state election. As the dust settles from the 2025 WA election, where the Liberals faced a disappointing result, discussions about collaboration with the Nationals are gaining momentum. Nationals leader Shane Love has emphasized the necessity for both parties to work more closely, while Liberal MP Steve Thomas remains skeptical about the feasibility of a merger.
The Liberal Party's internal dynamics will be tested at its upcoming first party room meeting, likely to be held next week. This gathering will mark a significant moment for the party as it navigates its future strategy, considering the recent election outcomes and the potential for collaboration with the Nationals.
Election Results and Immediate Reactions
The 2025 WA election concluded with most seats showing a clear winner, although some remain undecided as counting continues. This electoral outcome has prompted introspection within the Liberal Party, with Dr. Nahan voicing concerns that the party would have benefited from proposing a major project akin to Labor's Metronet. He criticized some upper house MPs for their lack of involvement in re-election efforts, noting that the party's seven Legislative Council members did not sufficiently engage with the community to inform policy development.
Former Premier Colin Barnett praised Libby Mettam's performance during the campaign but advocated for merging the Liberal and National parties to strengthen their position. He stated emphatically:
"A merger between the two parties is a prerequisite to winning back government in the future," – Colin Barnett
Dr. Nahan also acknowledged Mettam's efforts but lamented the absence of a "coherent plan" in the Liberal campaign. He remarked on the party's internal challenges:
"The message has to get through to the parliamentary wing and the party wing, that they have to be able to focus not on themselves, but on winning government for the party." – Mike Nahan
Differing Opinions on Party Merger
While discussions about a potential merger between the Liberals and Nationals continue, opinions within the parties vary significantly. Shane Love supports closer cooperation, but Steve Thomas expressed doubts about merging. He cautioned against internal discord:
"And it's always a terrible sign in a team when the team turns on itself and starts blaming each other," – Steve Thomas
Thomas further defended the upper house members' contributions, rejecting Dr. Nahan's criticisms as unwarranted:
"I think any suggestion that the upper house didn't contribute is simply sour grapes and looking for someone to pin the blame on other than yourself." – Steve Thomas
The idea of merging isn't unprecedented, as Queensland saw the establishment of the Liberal National Party in 2008. However, Thomas emphasized maintaining an effective opposition:
"Our system is based on an effective opposition, and you can't do that with just a handful of people in the Legislative Assembly." – Steve Thomas
Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
The upcoming party room meeting will serve as a critical juncture for determining how the Liberals will address their electoral challenges and whether they will pursue collaboration with the Nationals. Former party elder Ken Wyatt, alongside Libby Mettam, acknowledged that not listening broadly enough contributed to their defeat.
Dr. Nahan pointed out that a lack of interaction with constituents hindered their campaign:
"We have to know the people's views and problems and the only way you do that is interacting with them very closely as a Legislative Assembly person does," – Mike Nahan
He noted that their lower house representation was insufficient:
"We just didn't have people from the lower house doing that because we didn't win those seats." – Mike Nahan
Additionally, he emphasized Mettam's solitary efforts amidst inadequate support:
"And as a result we had Libby doing everything and not enough people supporting her." – Mike Nahan
