Subiaco Post publishes fake news about Zempilas & Ellison in running for Western Australian of the Year

A suburban newspaper didn’t even bother to check if Basil Zempilas or billionaire Chris Ellison were nominated when they dubbed them favourites for the Western Australian of the Year honour on Friday.

The Subiaco Post — a newspaper run by Bret Christian — used a front page article by John Townsend to declare the Lord Mayor and Mineral Resources founder were front-runners for the Western Australian of the Year in 2024.

The only problem was that neither had even been nominated.

In a statement on Friday to announce its new chair, Scott Jones, Celebrate WA, who runs the awards, stressed that neither of the high-profile men was in the running.

“Today’s Subiaco Post front-page story reported that Basil Zempilas and Chris Ellison are candidates for the Western Australian of the Year Awards, which is not true,” the statement read.

“Neither have been nominated in the 2024 Awards.”

CelebrateWA also confirmed Mr Christian’s newspaper had not made contact to verify any details in its story.

When questioned, Mr Christian said only that the nomination period had not closed.

Mr Zempilas, an employee of Seven West Media, who is due to run unopposed in the preselection for the Liberal seat of Churchlands later this year, declined to comment on the fake news story.

Mr Jones has been a board member of Celebrate WA since 2022 and is the Group chief executive of global education provider Navitas.

Former chair Mike Anghie has stepped down from the board after nine years as its leader.

Celebrate WA is a not-for-profit organisation responsible for promoting and organising the annual WA Day celebrations, promoting excellence and achievement by Western Australians in all fields of endeavour and encouraging pride in all things WA.

Nominations remain open for this year’s award.

Last year’s winner was mining billionaire and businesswoman Gina Rinehart.