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.
Libby Mettam | |
|---|---|
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| Leader of the Liberal Party of Western Australia | |
| Assumed office 30 January 2023 | |
| Preceded by | David Honey |
| Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Western Australia | |
| In office 24 November 2020 – 30 January 2023 | |
| Leader | Zak Kirkup David Honey |
| Preceded by | Bill Marmion |
| Succeeded by | Steve Thomas |
| Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia | |
| In office 24 November 2020 – 13 March 2021 | |
| Leader | Zak Kirkup |
| Preceded by | Bill Marmion |
| Succeeded by | Shane Love |
| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Vasse | |
| Assumed office 18 October 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Troy Buswell |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Elizabeth Hansen-Knarhoi 3 May 1977 Subiaco, Western Australia |
| Political party | Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Jonathan Mettam |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts Curtin University |
| Website | libbymettam |
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]