Basil Zempilas is headlining a Liberal Party fundraiser charging $500-a-head for a “private business dinner” at The Ritz-Carlton next month.
The event – organised by the Liberal Women’s Council and set down for February 15 – bills the gathering as an opportunity to “discuss the path forward for Western Australia” with the “Lord Mayor of Perth”.
Mr Zempilas, an employee of Seven West Media, is widely expected to confirm his intention to nominate for Liberal preselection in his home set of Churchlands by the end of January.
However, nominations for Churchlands do not close until February 28 – with the preselection itself to be held sometime in March – meaning the fundraiser comes well before Mr Zempilas enjoys any official role with the Liberals.
The invitation to the event makes no mention of Mr Zempilas’ potential candidacy for the conservative party.
WA Liberal Women’s Council president Michelle Boylan said the fundraiser was organised months ago and had been delayed by local government elections held last October.
“We look at who would be interesting drawcards that people would be interested in hearing speak,” she said.
“His name was put forward and we spent some time trying to arrange a date. (February 15) was the one his office came back to us with.”
The Liberal Women’s Council routinely ran similar fundraisers with prominent speakers.
“We primarily raise money to support female candidates – not just female candidates, but that is our priority going into an election.”
She said the dinner with Mr Zempilas had attracted “good interest” but declined to say how many tickets had been sold to date.
Mr Zempilas said he was not aware the event was a fundraiser when originally approached around six months ago.
“In my role as Lord Mayor I am regularly invited to address different community groups and always oblige where and when I can,” he said.
If the groups benefit in some way through my attendance, that is great.
“I was informed today this event is a fundraiser and I will be honouring my commitment. I was the Lord Mayor when I agreed to speak at the event and I will be the Lord Mayor when I attend the event and am happy to do so.”
Following successive heavy election defeats at a state level, the WA Liberals have struggled to match the fundraising firepower of Labor – especially during the tenure of former Premier Mark McGowan who was a major drawcard with the business community.
Mr Zempilas has long been linked to a tilt at state politics with the Liberals.
Liberal Party rules require all preselection candidates to have been members for at least 30 days before putting up their hand to contest a seat.
That means Mr Zempilas – who is not currently a member of any political party – must sign up to the Liberals before January 29 if he intends to nominate for Churchlands.
While technically not required to disclose his membership of a political party to the City of Perth, it is believed a decision to join the Liberals would be the trigger for a public announcement.