Basil Zempilas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Basil Zempilas
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Zempilas in 2006
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| 38th Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia |
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| Assumed office 25 March 2025 |
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| Premier | Roger Cook | ||||||||||||||||||
| Deputy | Libby Mettam | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Shane Love | ||||||||||||||||||
| Leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party | |||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 25 March 2025 |
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| Deputy | Libby Mettam | ||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Libby Mettam | ||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Churchlands |
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| Assumed office 8 March 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Christine Tonkin | ||||||||||||||||||
| 56th Lord Mayor of Perth | |||||||||||||||||||
| In office 19 October 2020 – March 2025 |
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| Deputy | Bruce Reynolds (2024–25) Clyde Bevan (2023–24) Liam Gobbert (2022–23) Di Bain (2021–22) Sandy Anghie (2020–21) |
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| Preceded by | Lisa Scaffidi | ||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Vacant | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
Basil Anthony Zempilas
30 July 1971 Perth, Western Australia |
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| Political party | Liberal (2024−present) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (until 2024) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Amy Zempilas
(m. 2009) |
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| Children | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Hale School | ||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Murdoch University (BA) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation |
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Basil Anthony Zempilas (born July 30, 1971) is an Australian politician. He is currently the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party and a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the area of Churchlands. He has held both these important roles since March 2025. Before his political career, he was well-known as a sports commentator, television and radio presenter. He also served as the Lord Mayor of Perth from 2020 until March 2025.
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Early Life and Sports
Basil Zempilas has Greek family roots. His mother was born on the island of Kastellorizo, and his father's family also came from there. He grew up in Perth, Western Australia. He went to Floreat Park Primary School and then Hale School. After school, he studied Media Studies and Mass Communications at Murdoch University, graduating in 1992.
Before his media career, Basil was a talented Australian Rules Football player. He played for the West Perth Football Club as a ruckman and forward. He played 24 games in the West Australian Football League between 1990 and 1994. He had to stop playing due to an injury.
His Media Career
Basil Zempilas started his career at the Seven Network in February 1994. He began as a sports reporter. He quickly gained recognition for his reporting. In 1996, he was named "Best Television Personality" at the Western Australia Football Commission media awards.
He became the weekend sports anchor for Seven News in 1996. He held this role until 2001. He also hosted a local football show called Basil's Footy Show starting in 1997. Basil was involved in covering big sports events. He hosted the 1998 World Aquatics Championships in Perth.
Basil has been part of the Seven Network's coverage of the Olympic Games since the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He co-hosted Tonight at the Games for Western and South Australia. At the 2002 Winter Olympics, he commentated on Steven Bradbury's historic gold medal win in speed skating. He also covered rowing and basketball at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. He continued to commentate on various sports at the 2006 Winter Olympics and 2008 Summer Olympics.
Basil was the main sports presenter for Seven News Perth. He also worked in radio, co-hosting breakfast shows on Perth stations like 92.9, 6PR, and Triple M Perth. He was a key part of the Seven Network's AFL broadcast team from 2012. He commentated on many AFL matches.
From March 2018, Basil was a co-host of Weekend Sunrise. He stepped down from this role in September 2019 to spend more time with his family. However, he still appeared on the show as a fill-in presenter. In February 2022, he reduced his duties with the Seven Network, stepping down from his main sports presenter role on Seven News Perth.
Becoming a Politician
In January 2020, Basil Zempilas announced he would run for Lord Mayor of Perth. He said he would leave his radio job if he won, but continue with Seven News. He won the election on October 17, 2020. He was sworn in as the 18th Lord Mayor of Perth on October 19, 2020. He stated it was a great honor and responsibility.
In 2021, there was talk that Basil might consider joining the Liberal Party for a state election. He was re-elected as Lord Mayor in 2023.
In January 2024, it was announced that Basil Zempilas planned to join the Western Australian Liberal Party. He sought to become a candidate for the electoral district of Churchlands. He intended to remain Lord Mayor unless he was elected to parliament. He would only take a break during the election campaign.
Leader of the Liberal Party
In the 2025 Western Australian state election campaign, Basil Zempilas was the Liberal candidate for Churchlands. He won the seat from the sitting Labor MP, Christine Tonkin. Just two weeks after his election victory, he was chosen as the new Leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party. This also made him the state's Opposition Leader.
Personal Life
Basil Zempilas married Amy Graham on September 6, 2009, on the Greek island of Kastellorizo. They have three children: two daughters named Chloe and Ava, and a son.
