Nationals MP Mem Beard defects to Liberals in move that opens door to Libby Mettam becoming Opposition Leader

Nationals MP Mem Beard is defecting to the Liberals in a bombshell move that opens the door to Libby Mettam seizing the mantle of Opposition Leader from Shane Love. The shock desertion will upend WA’s political landscape for the second time in six months after Mark McGowan’s unexpected resignation breathed new life into the 2025 election. Ms Beard’s decision threatens to cause a deep rift in that uneasy union 17 months out from that contest — but the Carnarvon pub owner said she believed it was the most effective way to deliver for her region. “Sometimes, you need to make hard and uncomfortable decisions if you believe they are in the best interests of your constituents and the State,” Ms Beard said. “I have reached a view that the Liberal Party will be at the forefront of shaping a government that will deliver the change that WA needs. “I want the local communities across my regional electorate to be at the heart of driving that change. “That is why I am now seeking to join the Liberal team, which I will do by following the party’s usual processes.” A shocked Mr Love released a statement on Tuesday night. “This evening at 7.00 pm I received notification from the Member for North West Central Ms Merome Beard MLA of her resignation from The Nationals WA.” “Just over a year ago, dedicated members of The Nationals WA from all corners of the state worked tirelessly, raised funds, and contributed significantly to elect Ms Beard as a member of the State Parliament under The Nationals WA banner.” “Tonight, I share their disappointment. The Nationals WA remains committed to the people of the North West and ensuring the Cook Labor Government is removed from power in 2025.” Questions have been hanging over Ms Beard’s fledgling political career since the release of proposed new electoral boundaries that would see her seat abolished in favour of creating a new seat in Perth’s south-east. Her switch of allegiance means she is now poised to go head-to-head with Mr Love for an amalgamated Mid West seat stretching from Gingin to Coral Bay. The defection comes with the Nationals in a battle for relevance following sweeping changes to WA’s Legislative Council that have created a single Statewide electorate. That change is widely viewed as an existential threat to the country party, which can no longer rely on three regional electorates — electing half the MPs in the Upper House — to provide a reliable route to representation. Ms Beard’s desertion carries major implications because it leaves the Liberals and Nationals deadlocked at three seats each in the Legislative Assembly — casting doubt on the country party’s claim to opposition status. Parliament’s rules dictate the party that wins the second most Lower House seats becomes the official opposition, which attracts additional taxpayer-funded resourcing — particularly for staff. The 2021 election bloodbath reduced the Liberals to just two seats in the Legislative Assembly, compared with the Nationals’ four. For the past 2½ years the two parties have operated in a formal alliance, committing them to share resources — although the distribution is currently weighted in favour of the Nationals in recognition of the fact they held more seats. The status of that agreement — and the Nationals’ claim on opposition — now appears up in the air. Ms Beard would not be drawn on whether she believed Ms Mettam should immediately replace Mr Love as Opposition Leader, saying it was “a negotiation for the parties”. “What I do believe is that it’s incumbent upon everyone in both the Liberals and the Nationals to work collaboratively and actually do whatever it takes to form a strong and united opposition that can present as a real alternative to the Labor Government,” she said. Bolstering Ms Mettam’s case to be named Opposition Leader is the fact the Liberals hold seven seats in the Legislative Council compared with the Nationals’ three and will now outnumber the country party by 10 total MPs to six. Ms Beard’s defection is not without precedent. Her predecessor, Vince Catania, jumped ship from Labor to the Nationals in the same seat in 2009 and former Geraldton MP Ian Blayney quit the Liberals to join the Nationals in 2019. “I made a commitment to my electorate when I stepped out of the family business and put my hand up for the seat of North West Central, that I’d be there for the long haul and to continue to fight for the investment and services our regional communities so desperately need,” Ms Beard said. “The best way for me to continue fulfilling that commitment is by working as part of Libby Mettam’s Liberal team to hold the Cook Labor Government to account and support the development of policies that will properly and responsibly address the challenges our State faces. “I look forward to continuing to work hard on behalf of my constituents and helping to bring about the change that regional WA needs and deserves.” Ms Beard tendered her resignation on Tuesday night and will now apply to join the WA Liberal Party, although that is believed to be a formality. In August, the Nationals offered to enter into a formal coalition with the Liberals that would transfer the title and profile of Opposition Leader to Ms Mettam. However, in return, they demanded a joint ticket in the Legislative Council that would hand a Nationals candidate every third spot — effectively guaranteeing the country party at least three winnable seats. Little progress has been made in those talks, with the WA Liberals understood to believe Ms Mettam already enjoys a higher profile than Mr Love — making the party unwilling to knock its own candidates further down a joint Legislative Council ticket. Ms Beard’s resignation comes just a day after it was revealed the National Party had established its first metropolitan branch in Bateman. Mr Love announced the bold metro move at the country party’s annual State Conference in Perth in August, saying the Nationals needed to “become a player in the city or risk falling into oblivion”.