Labor accused of ‘double standard’ as mayor and councillor join election team

Labor has locked in a local mayor for the State election and is eyeing a City of Perth councillor for a Federal seat, but has rejected claims it is a “double standard” after previously accusing Liberal candidate Basil Zempilas of politicising local government. The West Australian has confirmed councillor Dr Victor Ko is the only nominee for Labor’s preselection for the Federal seat of Curtin, although the preselection process has not been finalised. He previously voted with Mr Zempilas against the Cook Government’s proposed land transaction for an East Perth primary school, before Labor used its majority in State Parliament to pass legislation to acquire the Queens Gardens carpark. Premier Roger Cook posed for photos alongside Mandurah mayor Rhys Williams on Tuesday, to promote his preselection as Labor’s candidate to replace the retiring David Templeman. Mr Williams has been Mandurah mayor for seven years and announced that he would stand aside in December. “The December council meeting will be my final council meeting,” he said. “It is a job that requires full-time commitment and a full-time focus and I understand that to be able to prosecute my case and WA Labor’s case here in Mandurah for re-election is also a full time commitment. “That allows for an appropriate transition and then allows me to focus on being a candidate full time.” Mr Cook used the opportunity to accuse Perth Lord Mayor Mr Zempilas of being “conflicted” since January, when he nominated for Liberal preselection for the seat of Churchlands. “Literally within months of being elected as mayor he decided he would run for Parliament in a completely different part of the Perth metropolitan area,” the Premier said. “So not only is he conflicted by the fact that he abandoned his constituents within months of being elected, he is now completely abandoning the Perth community by running in a completely different part of the area. “It stands in sharp contrast to Rhys Williams, who in the back end of his second term as mayor has now provided an opportunity to immediately transition out of that role ... and is already making preparations to leave.” Mr Zempilas has said he will take a leave of absence closer to the State election, as former Wanneroo mayor — now Labor member for Pearce — Tracey Roberts did, five weeks before the 2022 Federal election. “Is the Premier joking? He’s so obsessed he can’t even recognise Labor’s stunning double standards,” Mr Zempilas said. “Forget about me Premier, just get on with your job, be a statesman and lead, stop playing games.” He pointed to Labor’s candidate for Landsdale, Daniel Pastorelli, who is currently working as Mr Cook’s chief of staff, without a clear time frame in place for him to take leave. Mr Cook said people have the right to continue to work while they campaign. “However, that obviously cannot be at the expense of their work,” he said. “So in the case of people who are in the public sector and nominated candidates for the election, they have to campaign in their own time and that’s the same for everyone.” Mr Cook also hit out at the Liberal Party’s “train wreck” pre-selection in Mandurah, a week after James Hall stood aside as its candidate over a series of historic anti-immigration posts on social media. WA Labor has launched a new attack ad: “Why won’t Libby Mettam stand up to this”, telling members in an email obtained by The West Australian that Mr Hall should have been kicked out before he stood down. “It’s another disappointing example of how Libby’s Liberals have learnt nothing,” the email said. Mr Cook labelled Liberal candidate for Albany Thomas Brough, who has previously linked the LGBTQIA+ community to paedophilia, another example of “extremists” in the party. “I don’t think she (Ms Mettam) has the mettle, the strength or the courage to stand up to it,” he said.