Opposition alliance parties only going to get closer says Zempilas following all or nothing Love comments

Basil Zempilas has denied the Opposition Alliance is close to splitting up despite comments by his Nationals counterpart Shane Love that the junior partner would break the agreement if it was not formalised. Speaking to media on Sunday, Mr Zempilas said he was surprised to see Mr Love’s comments and thought the two parties were working well together. “I’m not disappointed, but I was surprised only because the sense that perhaps was portrayed does not match the reality,” he said. “The absolute sense is that from those inside both teams and those who have been observing the early weeks of this new parliament, we are working very well together as a cohesive, high-functioning, united Opposition Alliance.” The comments come after The Sunday Times reported comments from Mr Love saying the two parties should go it alone if a formal Coalition agreement could not be met. “To be anything in the middle (of being fully separate or in a formal Coalition) has really not proven successful,” Mr Love said. “For me, we either have an agreement where we are definitely working together, or we be separate.” The traditional Coalition partners have had a tense relationship in recent times. In late 2024, leading up to March’s State election, the alliance was on the brink after Mr Love pledged not to form a Coalition government with the Liberals unless they agreed to rewrite Labor’s firearm law reform. Mr Zempilas said he believed the two parties were stronger together but that a formal Coalition agreement took time to develop. “I’ve got a very good vantage point, I’m well aware of how well we’re working together, I’m very aware of how good the relationship between Shane Love as leader of the Nationals and my own relationship as leader of the Liberal Party is,” he said. “We’re working very, very well together. My sense is that we are nowhere near a walking away, in fact if anything, we are only going to get stronger and come closer together.” Mr Love clarified his comments on Sunday in a statement, saying if the parties were to win the 2029 State Election, they needed to do it together. “The current Opposition alliance is functioning well, our parliamentary relationship is focused, co-operative, and firmly united in holding the Cook Labor Government to account,” he said. “The Nationals WA recognise the pressing need for a longer-term Opposition agreement that provides clarity, stability, and strategic direction beyond the current short-term Alliance. “While we await the Liberal Party’s return to the negotiating table, the Opposition parliamentary teams will continue to work together effectively.” Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti slammed the disunity of the opposition. “The Nationals and Liberal Party have been a mess for many, many years so this is of no surprise,” she said. “My analysis is it’s like watching an episode of The Big Brother house and they keep going into the diary room to complain about each other.”