Libby Mettam
MLA
Leader of the Liberal Party of Western Australia
Assumed office
30 January 2023
Preceded byDavid Honey
Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Western Australia
In office
24 November 2020 – 30 January 2023
LeaderZak Kirkup
David Honey
Preceded byBill Marmion
Succeeded bySteve Thomas
Deputy Leader of the Opposition
in Western Australia
In office
24 November 2020 – 13 March 2021
LeaderZak Kirkup
Preceded byBill Marmion
Succeeded byShane Love
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly
for Vasse
Assumed office
18 October 2014
Preceded byTroy Buswell
Personal details
Born
Elizabeth Hansen-Knarhoi

(1977-05-03) 3 May 1977
Subiaco, Western Australia
Political partyLiberal Party
SpouseJonathan Mettam
Children2
Alma materWestern Australian Academy of Performing Arts
Curtin University
Websitelibbymettam.com.au

Elizabeth Mettam (née Hansen-Knarhoi; born 3 May 1977) is an Australian politician. She has been the Liberal member for Vasse in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly since a by-election on 18 October 2014. She has been the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party since January 2023 and was the deputy leader of the party from December 2020 to January 2023.[1] At the 2021 state election, she was one of only two Liberal MLAs to retain their seat, the other being David Honey.

Early life

Mettam was born on 3 May 1977 in Subiaco, Western Australia, the daughter of Jenny and Peter Hansen-Knarhoi.[2][3]

Mettam briefly lived in Kalgoorlie as a child before her family settled in Geraldton, where her father worked as a biochemist. She attended Bluff Point Primary School and Geraldton Senior High School, before going on to study broadcasting at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).[2] She holds a Bachelor of Arts from WAAPA and a Master of Public Administration from Curtin University.[4]

Journalism career

From 1999 to 2001, Mettam worked for Channel 7 Perth as a researcher on Today Tonight.[3] She subsequently moved to Adelaide for a year, where her husband was study winemaking, during which time she worked part-time on A Current Affair.[2] She then settled in Dunsborough, Western Australia, and became a producer with ABC South West WA. She later worked as a freelance journalist for Instyle Publishing, and as a publicist with CinefestOZ.[3]

Politics

Mettam joined the Dunsborough branch of the Liberal Party in 2006 and worked for Liberal MP Barry House for ten years as an electorate officer.[3] She was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly at the 2014 Vasse state by-election, retaining the seat of Vasse for the Liberal Party following the resignation of former party leader Troy Buswell.[4] In November 2020, Mettam assumed the role as Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party in Western Australia, behind then-leader Zak Kirkup and later David Honey.[5] She remained in the position until January 2023, when she was succeeded by Steve Thomas.[6]

In January 2023, Mettam defeated David Honey in a leadership spill, to become the leader of the Liberal Party in Western Australia.[7][8][9][10]

In April 2023, Mettam publicly came out in support of the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament being advocated by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, which was contrary to the position of the federal Liberal Party, led by Peter Dutton.[11][12] However by August 2023, Mettam walked back her support for the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament indicating her intention to vote NO.[13][14][15]

Personal life

Mettam has two daughters with her husband Jonathan, a winemaker, whom she met while they worked together at the Albion Hotel, Cottesloe.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Perpitch, Nicolas; Bourke, Keane; Burmas, Grace (30 January 2023). "Shane Love is WA's new opposition leader, as Libby Mettam takes over Liberal party leadership". ABC News. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Zimmerman, Josh (29 November 2020). "Deputy leader of the WA Liberal party Libby Mettam on her unorthodox path to success". Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Ms Elizabeth (Libby) Mettam". Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  4. 1 2 "Liberals declare victory in South West seat of Vasse, but suffer swing against". ABC News. 18 October 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
  5. ↑ corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra. "Western Australian 2021 election: a quick guide". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 10 April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ↑ "Libby Mettam on her unorthodox path to success". The West Australian. 28 November 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Hastie, Michael Genovese, Hamish (30 January 2023). "Shane Love elected opposition leader as Libby Mettam chosen to lead WA Liberals". WAtoday. Retrieved 10 April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ↑ "'A line in the sand': New WA Liberal leader Libby Mettam declares war on factional powerbrokers". ABC News. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "Libby Mettam". Linked In.
  10. ↑ Hastie, Michael Genovese, Hamish (30 January 2023). "New WA Liberal leader to strip 'The Clan' member Goiran of shadow ministries". WAtoday. Retrieved 10 April 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ↑ "Mettam defies Federal party position on Voice to Parliament". 5 April 2023.
  12. ↑ Curtis, Katina (4 June 2023). "Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Libby Mettam has not joined Liberals for Yes campaign". The West Australian. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  13. ↑
  14. ↑
  15. ↑


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