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Libby Mettam opens up on her Christmas miracle as she prepares for David v Goliath election battle

Libby Mettam says she has emerged from a tough 2024 stronger than ever, ready to face Roger Cook in a “David and Goliath” battle she believes she can win. Few, if any, believe Ms Mettam will beat Mr Cook in next year’s State Election. The Premier starts so far in front it’s doubtful even Gout Gout would catch him. But in her last major interview of the year, the WA Liberal leader asks West Australians to reflect on one question ahead of the March 8 poll. “Is your life better now than it was when Labor won power in 2017?” She believes the answer is no, and hopes that when West Australians cast their votes, they will agree with her appraisal of eight years of Labor rule and vote accordingly. Meanwhile, mother-of-two Ms Mettam is also excited about her life away from politics, and is preparing to celebrate Christmas with her first grandchild Remi. “We (Liberals) have got a mountain to climb, and resource-wise, it is a David and Goliath (contest) when you look at the resources of this Government, compared to what we have got,” she said of next year’s election. “But I am focused and determined on a better future for West Australians who are struggling through the largest boom this State has ever seen. “My resolve is squarely on West Australians who are struggling to make ends meet, to put food on the table, during the largest boom the State has seen.” Libby Mettam is a survivor. Supporters of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas, her Liberal candidate in Churchlands, unsuccessfully attempted to overthrow her last month. And throughout 2024, poor polling has raised questions whether she is more a hard-working lieutenant than a captain. “Every challenge has made me stronger and most recently, the politics of the last week of Parliament have certainly made me stronger as well,” she said. Does she trust Basil Zempilas? Many speculate he will make a full-on assault on the WA Liberal Party leadership after the election, assuming he wins the inner north-western seat of Churchlands. “I have a great deal of trust in all my candidates,” Ms Mettam said. “He is an asset to our team. “We need all hands on deck.” If a failed coup has made her stronger, more determined to prove her critics wrong, the arrival of a granddaughter has melted her heart. Ms Mettam said the arrival of granddaughter Remi has been a “life-changing experience” for herself and husband Jonathan, a wine maker from their hometown of Dunsborough. Ms Mettam’s eldest daughter, Bianca, and her partner Cam, have flown in from Wollongong for Christmas in Dunsborough with baby Remi, along with the Mettams’ other daughter, Sophia, who lives in Sydney. Sophia’s partner Billy will also join the family later in the festive season. Ms Mettam’s father Peter and mother-in-law Elaine will also be part of the Christmas celebrations, in what is gearing up to be a pretty special time for the family. “Someone once said to me it (being a grandparent) does change your life,” she reflected. “It is life-changing being a grandmother and it’s been so beautiful to see and catch up with baby Remi once again. “I visited her when she was born and have been over to Wollongong since. “But to have her home in WA for the first time is really special. “My husband Jonathan and I love being grandparents. Jonathan was very much a hands-on father — and is now a hands-on grandfather as well. “We’ve gone over separately to try and help.” The Liberals start the race for government with just three of 59 seats in the Legislative Assembly, where government is formed. The Liberals’ alliance partner, the WA Nationals, also have just three seats. Published polling suggests that at best, the two might end up with 15 to 17 seats. Perhaps wisely, Ms Mettam refuses to be drawn on what the pass mark is in terms of Liberal seats won in 2025. Unlike her predecessor Zak Kirkup just before the 2021 State Election, she refuses to talk defeat. “I am not entering into those sorts of hypotheticals,” she said. “We have to be in it to win it. “We are focused on winning.” Appearing to be inspired by Donald Trump’s election strategy where he painted the Biden administration as under-achieving, Ms Mettam asks West Australians whether their lives have been enhanced by a Labor government that enjoys unprecedented billions from mining royalties and GST receipts from Canberra. “There is no doubt that I am the underdog,” Ms Mettam said. “The mountain to climb is significant. “But I will continue to remind West Australians: Are you better off than eight years ago?” Labor — led since mid-last year by Roger Cook — wants a third term of government and is already throwing hundreds of millions of dollars at this campaign. In the past seven months alone, the Cook administration has spent $1.1 billion on cost-of-living measures — a $400 power bill credit being a major election carrot. Ms Mettam and welfare agencies question whether government funds on other cost-of-living measures, like free tickets to the zoo and free entry to the Perth Royal Show for kids, could be better spent addressing more pressing problems like a social housing wait list that now tops 20,000. “I believe West Australians deserve much better,” Ms Mettam said. “They deserve a government that is committed to the right priorities.” She points to already announced Liberal measures to tackle cost-of-living hikes as evidence she gets the fact West Australians are hurting in the face of 13 interest rate hikes and rising living expenses. So far, Ms Mettam has, for example, announced plans to cut stamp duty for first-homeowners and lower annual power bills by $169 by cutting the daily supply charge. And she says she will fight the next election on other key areas, like health and policing. “My determination is clear,” she said. “It is delivering our elective surgery guarantee, which will ensure individuals aren’t waiting years for their surgery. “It is delivering 300 police officers from day one, strengthening our bail laws and parole laws, cutting Labor’s electricity tax, reducing stamp duty for first-homebuyers. “This election is not about me. “This is about better delivering for West Australians who are suffering, who can’t get a roof over their head, food on the table, and are waiting years for elective surgery and not feeling safe in their communities.” It is likely to be a short summer break for Ms Mettam and the Liberals. “We will be starting to ramp up the campaign early in the new year,” she said. “After Australia Day it (campaign) formally starts, but before then, straight after the new year, we will be campaigning.” For the next few days though, her focus is on baby Remi — her Christmas miracle. “Remi is a blessing. My special new, best friend,” she said, with a smile.

The West Australian exclusiveLibby Mettam opens up on her Christmas miracle as she prepares for David v Goliath election battle

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Libby Mettam opens up on her Christmas miracle as she prepares for David v Goliath election battle