When City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas fired the starting gun on his political career on Saturday, his hope of an enthralling grand announcement that he would join the Liberals and nominate for the seat of Churchlands was drowned out by a ricocheting bullet.
Half of a conversation with 9News Perth reporter Michael Genovese was beamed live to Facebook seconds before the press conference got under way, which made it sound like Zempilas was describing the women’s tennis final airing that night as a “reserves game”.
Property developer Nigel Satterley, Seven West Media boss Kerry Stokes and Liberal aspirsant Basil Zempilas.
Both Zempilas and Genovese have since corrected the record – that the conversation was actually about the experience of anchoring the nightly news when major sporting events like the Australian Open are being aired (a situation Genovese found himself in on Saturday).
But the ensuing storm generated from those few seconds overshadowed what was an otherwise candid press conference where Zempilas made illuminating remarks about the extent to which his employer Seven West Media – and its owner, Kerry Stokes – knew about his political intentions.
Zempilas has plenty of form when it comes to on-air gaffes, and many in WA media circles expected controversies during his campaign, but it is his three decade-plus relationship with Seven West Media that will be the subject of the most intriguing scrutiny.
Rumours of Zempilas’ plans to run for the Liberals began to swirl in mid-2022, but on Saturday he said he first spoke to Stokes about the idea after Telethon in October.
Zempilas said he did not ask for an endorsement from the billionaire media mogul, and did not get one, but explained why he was thinking of running.
“There was no encouragement, but an understanding of why I might desire the opportunity to step forward,” he said.
“He was keen to hear why I thought I might like to have a go. I explained to him that I think I have a passion to continue to represent Western Australia ... representing my local area really started as a member of the Channel Seven team.”
Zempilas said Stokes was generally supportive of his plans.
“The conversation was not much more than, ‘OK, well, as long as you’ve thought about everything and the space that you’d be getting into, then if you feel like you’re suitable for it, have a go’,” Zempilas said.
“It was not much more complicated than that.”
In an earlier interview on 6PR on Saturday with presenter Jamie Burnett, Zempilas said he sought advice from Stokes because he was an “experienced” member of the WA community that had “observed politics from his vantage point for a long time”.
“Clearly, Jamie, people like me entering into new spaces are always going to seek the advice of people who are considered authority figures, if you like, experienced in these areas,” he said.
Labor will dutifully log words and airtime by Seven West outlets because it sees the support of a media organisation as crucial in boosting electoral prospects.
Labor thinks this way because it was the beneficiary of such support during COVID.
Former WA premier Mark McGowan had a chummy relationship with Stokes, as exposed in text messages aired during Clive Palmer’s defamation trial, so while Labor wouldn’t be surprised, their hearts would sink a little to hear Zempilas went to the media mogul seeking advice.
Labor fears Zempilas, who will bring his existing public profile with him to a party that was relegated to the kids’ table after the 2021 election.
Perhaps more importantly, the Liberals will also get access to Zempilas’ media megaphone, which also includes weekly spots on his old radio station 6PR (owned by Nine, also the publisher of this masthead).
It is this knowledge that is driving Labor’s fervent campaign against Zempilas before he has even officially nominated for Churchlands.
Zempilas also revealed that he would overcome any conflicts Seven West by quitting his fill-in sports presenter role on 7News.
However, he would continue to be employed by the company in the lead-up to the election and continue his duties for Telethon and writing his regular paid Friday column for The West Australian newspaper.
“I don’t know about most people, but I don’t think there’s too many that would be able to afford to quit their job a year-plus out from the election,” Zempilas said.
If the content of his past columns are anything to go by, this means Zempilas will now effectively be paid to campaign.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.
Social media storm drowns out Zempilas’ illuminating remarks about his boss
9
1
30.01.2024
When City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas fired the starting gun on his political career on Saturday, his hope of an enthralling grand announcement that he would join the Liberals and nominate for the seat of Churchlands was drowned out by a ricocheting bullet.
Half of a conversation with 9News Perth reporter Michael Genovese was beamed live to Facebook seconds before the press conference got under way, which made it sound like Zempilas was describing the women’s tennis final airing that night as a “reserves game”.
Property developer Nigel Satterley, Seven West Media boss Kerry Stokes and Liberal aspirsant Basil Zempilas.
Both Zempilas and Genovese have since corrected the record – that the conversation was actually about the experience of anchoring the nightly news when major sporting events like the Australian Open are being aired (a situation Genovese found himself in on Saturday).
But the ensuing storm generated from those few seconds overshadowed what was an otherwise candid press conference where Zempilas made illuminating remarks about the extent to which his employer Seven West Media – and its owner, Kerry Stokes – knew about his political........
© WA Today
visit website
login
who are we?
contact us
qosheapp
Toi Staff
Gideon Levy
Belen Fernandez
Andrew Mitrovica
Mort Laitner
Rami G Khouri
Ali Fathollah-Nejad
Nikkei Editorial
