Sherry Sufi: WA Liberals declare an ‘exciting new chapter’ as key Andrew Hastie backer is axed

The WA Liberal party’s State council has voted to dump the chair of its policy committee, as the blame game over successive election thumpings continues. Sherry Sufi led the lay party’s policy committee, that recently initiated motions calling for MP’s to abandon net zero by 2050 targets, strip Aboriginal welcome-to-country speeches of official status and only display Commonwealth and State flags. The motions easily passed State Council, with the support of senior Federal Liberal MP’s Andrew Hastie and Michaelia Cash, but were not binding on MP’s and were opposed by WA Liberal Leader Basil Zempilas. Party officials confirmed Mr Sufi’s replacement by addiction recovery expert Tabitha Corser, but wouldn’t comment on claims he was a scapegoat for recent policy battles after a fight back by moderates. One party insider called the scapegoat claim “sour grapes” because the “blokes from the religious right” didn’t win. The West Australian understands Ms Corser won 74 votes to 55. Mr Sufi, who works part-time for Senator Cash, declined to comment. But in an email to members, he raised concerns about a “great divide” between the lay party and MP’s and “competing expectations”. “This view manifests itself in the form of widespread expectations that the lay party should have much greater input into the policy development process,” Mr sufi said. “In stark contrast, the parliamentary wing has to take a more pragmatic approach.” State Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas said the result was an “exciting” new chapter after 10 years with Mr Sufi at the helm. “I want to thank Sherry for his considerable contribution to the party,” he said. “I congratulate Tabitha on her election and look forward to working with her and the policy committee. She brings her own expertise and energy to the role and this appointment heralds an exciting new chapter for the WA Liberals.” While Mr Hastie, who recently quit Sussan Ley’s front bench to speak out on immigration policy, said it was unlikely the net zero motion sealed Mr Sufi’s political fate. “Sherry has been a smart and diligent policy chair for the WA Liberal Party,” he said. “If net zero was a reason for people voting against him - which I doubt - he will be vindicated in the long run. “Even the leader of the UK Conservatives Kemi Badenoch last week committed to abandoning net zero. The WA division made it clear through our net zero motion that we are putting Australians first in energy policy.” Previously a senior fellow at the Institute of Public Affairs’ Centre for the Australian Way of Life, Mr Sufi led the No campaign against The Voice referendum in WA and chaired the WA Friends of Israel. He was a Senate candidate in 2022, after previously being forced to resign as the party’s candidate for Fremantle in 2016, over historic comments about same-sex marriage and Indigenous recognition, and for mocking an MP’s accent.