Few people make the leap from a television studio to the leader’s office in Parliament House. Basil Zempilas did just that — swapping a decades-long career as a Perth media personality to become Leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party in March 2025. This guide collects the verified facts about his life, career, and family, while being clear about what is publicly known and what remains private.
Full name: Basil Zempilas ·
Current role: Leader of the WA Liberal Party, Member for Churchlands ·
Previous career: Television and radio presenter ·
Political party: Liberal Party of Australia (WA Division) ·
Electorate: Churchlands, Western Australia
Quick snapshot
- Leader of the WA Liberal Party since March 2025 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- Member for Churchlands in the WA Legislative Assembly (WA Liberal Party (official party site))
- Former Lord Mayor of Perth (2020–2025) (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- Spent 30 years in broadcasting (WA Liberal Party (official party site))
- Exact net worth (not publicly confirmed)
- Precise salary as Opposition Leader
- Specific details about wife and children (names partially known)
- Height (IMDb lists 1.95 m but unverified)
- 1994: Starts at Seven Network as sports reporter (Kiddle (children’s encyclopedia))
- 2009: Marries Amy Graham (Kiddle (children’s encyclopedia))
- 2020: Elected Lord Mayor of Perth (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- 2025: Becomes WA Liberal Leader (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
- Leading WA Liberal Party into next state election
- Shadow Minister for State Development, Trade and Investment
- Potential influence on WA’s economic policy
Six key facts define his current political profile.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Basil Zempilas |
| Current position | Leader of the WA Liberal Party, Member for Churchlands |
| Previous occupation | Television and radio presenter |
| Political party | Liberal Party of Australia (WA Division) |
| Electorate | Churchlands, Western Australia |
| Office location | Parliament House, Perth, Western Australia |
Who is Basil Zempilas?
Early life and education
- Basil Anthony Zempilas was born on 30 July 1971 in Perth, Western Australia (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
- He grew up in the suburb of Floreat and attended Floreat Park Primary School (Advoc8 (biography platform)).
- Zempilas studied Media Studies and Mass Communications at Murdoch University, graduating in 1992 (Kiddle (children’s encyclopedia)).
- His family heritage traces back to the Greek island of Kastellorizo (LIVEXchange (speaker bureau)).
Career in media
- Zempilas began at the Seven Network in February 1994 as a sports reporter (Kiddle (children’s encyclopedia)).
- Over nearly three decades he became a familiar face on Perth television, also hosting radio programs on 6PR (WA Liberal Party (official party site)).
- His media career overlapped with other prominent Australian broadcasters such as Amanda Keller and Justine Schofield, though his path later turned to politics.
A television personality who spent 30 years asking the questions now stands as the person who must answer them — as Leader of the Opposition, every public statement carries political weight.
Entry into politics
- In 2020 Zempilas was elected Lord Mayor of Perth, a role he held until 2025 (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
- He then contested and won the seat of Churchlands in the WA Legislative Assembly in March 2025 (WA Liberal Party (official party site)).
- Two weeks after his electoral victory, he was elected unopposed as leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
The implication: entering politics at the city level gave Zempilas executive experience before making the jump to state-wide leadership — an unusual but deliberate pathway.
What is Basil Zempilas’s net worth?
Estimated net worth
- Basil Zempilas’s net worth is not publicly confirmed. No verified financial disclosures have been released that provide a reliable figure.
- Speculative online estimates exist but lack authoritative sources.
Sources of income
- His primary income streams before politics came from his long media career at the Seven Network and 6PR.
- As a member of the WA Legislative Assembly and Opposition Leader, he receives a parliamentary salary — the exact amount is part of the public remuneration schedule but his personal salary is not separately published.
For voters assessing conflicts of interest, the absence of a public net worth figure means scrutiny will fall on his declared interests and parliamentary disclosures — the only available yardstick.
The catch: without official financial statements, anyone citing a specific net worth number is relying on speculation, not verified data.
Who is Basil Zempilas’s wife?
Marital status
- Basil Zempilas is married to Amy Graham (Kiddle (children’s encyclopedia)).
- They were married on 6 September 2009 on the Greek island of Kastellorizo (IMDb (film database)).
Family background
- The couple have three children, according to multiple biographical sources (Kiddle (children’s encyclopedia); IMDb (film database)).
- The WA Liberal Party website notes that Zempilas and his wife Amy are raising their family in the same area where he grew up (WA Liberal Party (official party site)).
- Specific names and ages of the children have not been widely publicised.
What this means: the Zempilas family maintains a relatively private personal life, sharing only what is necessary for public roles while keeping children out of the political spotlight.
What is Basil Zempilas’s political role?
Leader of the WA Liberal Party
- Zempilas is the 38th Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
- He leads the WA Liberal Party following the party’s defeat in the 2025 state election (WA Liberal Party (official party site)).
Shadow Minister portfolios
- As Shadow Minister for State Development, Trade and Investment, and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, Zempilas holds key economic and social portfolios (WA Liberal Party (official party site)).
Member for Churchlands
- The electorate of Churchlands covers the western suburbs of Perth, including Floreat where Zempilas grew up (WA Liberal Party (official party site)).
- His office is located at Parliament House in Perth (WA Liberal Party (official party site)).
The trade-off: Zempilas brings name recognition and media skills to a party rebuilding after electoral losses, but his short parliamentary experience means he must learn the legislative craft while leading the opposition.
Timeline of Basil Zempilas’s career
- 30 July 1971 – Born in Perth, Western Australia (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
- 1992 – Graduates from Murdoch University with a degree in Media Studies and Mass Communications (Kiddle (children’s encyclopedia)).
- February 1994 – Starts at the Seven Network as a sports reporter (Kiddle (children’s encyclopedia)).
- 6 September 2009 – Marries Amy Graham on Kastellorizo (Kiddle (children’s encyclopedia); IMDb (film database)).
- 2020 – Elected Lord Mayor of Perth (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
- March 2025 – Elected Member for Churchlands in the WA Legislative Assembly (WA Liberal Party (official party site)).
- March 2025 – Becomes Leader of the WA Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia)).
Confirmed facts and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Born 30 July 1971 in Perth to Greek-Australian parents
- Member for Churchlands since March 2025
- Leader of the WA Liberal Party and Opposition Leader
- Spent 30 years in television and radio before politics
- Married to Amy Graham; three children
- Previous Lord Mayor of Perth (2020–2025)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth and personal salary
- Specific names and ages of children
- Height (IMDb reports 1.95 m but not independently verified)
- Religious affiliation (unspecified in public sources)
Quotes about Basil Zempilas
“Basil is a local Liberal for Churchlands. He grew up in the area, went to school there, and together with his wife Amy they are raising their family there.”
— WA Liberal Party official biography (WA Liberal Party (official party site))
“Zempilas served as Lord Mayor of Perth from 2020 until 2025, and was elected unopposed as WA Liberal Leader two weeks after his electoral victory.”
— Wikipedia summary (Wikipedia (online encyclopedia))
For the WA Liberal Party, the choice is clear: either Zempilas uses his media instincts to rebuild the party’s appeal to Perth voters, or the opposition remains in the shadow of a dominant Labor government.
Frequently asked questions
What is Basil Zempilas’s net worth?
His net worth is not publicly confirmed. No verified financial disclosure is available, and online estimates are speculative without authoritative sources.
Who is Basil Zempilas’s wife?
He is married to Amy Graham. They wed on 6 September 2009 on the Greek island of Kastellorizo.
Does Basil Zempilas have children?
Yes, Basil and Amy Zempilas have three children. Their names and ages are not widely publicised.
What is Basil Zempilas’s salary?
Exact personal salary is not separately disclosed. As a member of Parliament and Opposition Leader, he receives the standard parliamentary remuneration package.
What is Basil Zempilas’s height?
IMDb lists his height as 6′ 4¾″ (1.95 m), but this has not been independently verified.
What is Basil Zempilas’s religion?
His religious affiliation is not specified in any of his official biographies or public statements.
Where is Basil Zempilas’s office?
His parliamentary office is located at Parliament House in Perth, Western Australia.
Jack Hayes is Senior Reporter at Oz Monitorly, covering breaking stories and explainers.