Breaking: Nedlands MP Jonathan Huston quits WA Liberals amid One Nation hints

Nedlands MP Jonathan Huston has quit the WA Liberal Party but will remain in parliament as an independent after being elected to the Liberal heartland seat just over a year ago.

WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas confirmed he had accepted Mr Huston's resignation and said he was "disappointed" in the news.

"I am particularly disappointed for the people of Nedlands, who elected Jonathan as a Liberal," he wrote in a statement.

"Jonathan wants to head in a policy direction that does not align with the WA Parliamentary Liberal Party."

Mr Zempilas said the Liberals were "united as a team in our efforts to hold this government to account and to put forward a strong and credible alternative policy agenda".

"Jonathan has decided he does not wish to be part of that agenda as a Liberal member of parliament and I accept that."

Mr Huston's departure leaves the Liberals and Nationals with six lower house seats each, but Mr Zempilas said it had no impact on the parties' alliance arrangements and that he remains opposition leader.

One Nation hint

Earlier this month it was reported Mr Huston had responded to a comment on his social media account, urging him to "consider joining One Nation" because he was "totally wasted with the Liberals", by saying "thank you for your kind words".

At that time, Mr Zempilas described Mr Huston as a "great talent".

"He's got a lot to offer, and we're only early into our journey together," Mr Zempilas said.

In a statement, One Nation's WA leader Rod Caddies said no Liberal MPs had approached him about joining his party, but that if any MP agreed with their policies, "One Nation WA would definitely cooperate with them".

"But we are not trying to poach or recruit anyone," he wrote.

"It is clear what One Nation believes in and stands for, and every Australian has the option of getting on board.

"Indeed, one in three Australians has decided to [support One Nation], so I guess the chances of a WA Liberal MP feeling the same, I would imagine, are not impossible."

Disloyal claim from party director

WA Liberal Party state director Simon Morgan was also quick to respond to Mr Huston's departure, writing in a statement that he had "relied on the tireless volunteer efforts" of Liberal Party branch members to win his seat.

"Those members have every right to feel disappointed and angry today, because instead of returning that loyalty, Mr Huston has chosen to turn his back on them," he said.

Mr Zempilas was quick to confirm the Liberals would "vigorously contest" the seat at the next election with a new candidate.

In a statement, Mr Huston said his decision "reflected a desire to focus entirely on the opportunities and challenges" that will shape the future of WA.

"We need a fairer return from the resources owned by the people of Western Australia," he said, also calling for more federal investment in infrastructure, defence, health, education and research.

"My values have not changed. I still believe in enterprise, personal responsibility, individual freedom, strong families and smaller, more effective government.

In response, Mr Zempilas suggested Mr Huston was calling for "significant increases in mining royalties" which the opposition "have no intention of pursuing".

Liberal stronghold

The seat of Nedlands has been held by the Liberals almost continuously since it was created in 1950, except for a four-year period when it was represented by Labor's Katrina Stratton after its landslide 2021 election.

And despite being elected to the seat for the Liberals in 2001, Sue Walker defected from the party shortly before the 2008 election to stand as an independent. She lost.

Most notably, Nedlands was held by Sir Charles Court and his son, Richard Court — both former premiers — for nearly half a century.

Mr Huston holds the seat on a narrow 2.7 per cent margin.

He had served as the party's spokesperson for deregulation, small business, public sector reform and veterans.

The former businessman had been vocal about a number of local issues within his electorate, including plans to build a ferry terminal at Matilda Bay and the federal government's planned sale of the Irwin Barracks.

His departure deals WA Liberal leader Basil Zempilas one of his first major blows, but the move is not entirely unexpected.

In October last year he wrote a paper slamming the AUKUS submarine agreement and circulated it to media, prompting Mr Zempilas to tell the ABC that was "not the way" to debate policy.