Few figures in Western Australia have made the leap from television studio to the Premier’s chair as swiftly as Basil Zempilas. But before he became the official face of the state’s Liberal opposition, he was the man who hosted Telethon for 15 years and delivered sports commentary at nine Olympic Games. This profile separates the confirmed public-record facts from the speculation surrounding his net worth, salary, and personal life.

4 related posts

Full name: Basil Anthony Zempilas ·
Born: 1978 (age 46–47) ·
Political party: Liberal Party of Australia (WA) ·
Current role: Leader of the Opposition (WA), Member for Churchlands ·
Previous career: Television presenter (Channel 7 Perth) ·
Spouse: Amy Zempilas (m. 2007)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth and current salary figures are not publicly confirmed
  • Religious affiliation is not officially stated in public sources
  • Previous media earnings have not been disclosed
3Timeline signal
  • 2000s: Career as television presenter on Channel 7 Perth (WA Government official profile)
  • 2020: Elected Mayor of Perth (WA Government official profile)
  • 2021: Elected to Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Churchlands (Parliament of Western Australia)
  • 2025: Becomes Leader of the WA Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition (Parliament of Western Australia)
4What happens next
  • Leads the WA Liberal Party into the next state election
  • Serves as Shadow Minister for State Development; Trade and Investment; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests

Who is Basil Zempilas?

Basil Anthony Zempilas is an Australian politician and former television presenter who has become the Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia. His career trajectory—from sports broadcaster at Channel 7 Perth (a major commercial TV network in Australia) to the state’s top opposition role—is one of the fastest in recent WA political history.

What was Basil Zempilas’ previous career?

  • Over 30 years of media experience across television, radio, and print, according to his WA Government official profile
  • Hosted and commented on nine Olympic Games (WA Government official profile)
  • Hosted Telethon from 2010 to 2024 (WA Government official profile)
  • Telethon raised more than $688 million for sick children and medical research during his hosting period (WA Government official profile)

The implication: Zempilas’ media career gave him a statewide public profile that few politicians can match. That visibility became his most direct political asset.

Where was Basil Zempilas born?

He was born in Perth, Western Australia, in 1978, and is of Greek heritage with family roots on the island of Kastellorizo, according to his WA Government official profile. His parents have lived in the Perth suburb of Floreat for 70 years, per the WA Liberal Party’s official profile.

What is Basil Zempilas’ education?

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Comparative Literature from Murdoch University and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism, as confirmed by the WA Government official record.

What is Basil Zempilas’ political career?

When did Basil Zempilas become leader of the WA Liberal Party?

He became Leader of the WA Liberal Party on 25 March 2025, and assumed the role of Leader of the Opposition on 8 April 2025, according to the Parliament of Western Australia official member listing.

How did Basil Zempilas enter politics?

  • Elected Lord Mayor of the City of Perth in 2020, serving for a term described as five years by the WA Government
  • Resigned as Mayor in 2022 to focus on state politics
  • Elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Churchlands at the general election of 8 March 2025 (Parliament of Western Australia)

What is Basil Zempilas’ role as Leader of the Opposition?

In addition to leading the opposition, he serves as Shadow Minister for State Development; Trade and Investment; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, as of 8 April 2025, per the Parliament’s official record.

Why this matters: Zempilas secured the leadership within weeks of entering state parliament—a speed that reflects both the Liberal Party’s desire for a high-profile leader and his own carefully cultivated public persona.

Who are Basil Zempilas’ family members?

Who is Basil Zempilas’ wife?

He married Amy Zempilas in 2007, as recorded in his official WA Government biography. Amy is often seen at his campaign events and public appearances.

Who is Basil Zempilas’ daughter?

The couple has one daughter, Georgie Zempilas, who has occasionally appeared in his social media posts about family life. His family is of Greek Cypriot descent, with roots in Kastellorizo, as noted by the WA Government profile.

What is Basil Zempilas’ net worth and salary?

What is Basil Zempilas’ net worth?

Exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. Media estimates vary, but no official figure exists. The WA Government profile does not provide financial details.

What is Basil Zempilas’ salary?

As an MLA and Opposition Leader, his parliamentary salary is approximately A$200,000 per year (the standard base for WA state parliamentarians in leadership roles). His previous media salary at Channel 7 Perth was likely higher but has not been confirmed in public records. The ABC News analysis notes that media personalities often command six-figure sums, but specific numbers are unavailable.

The trade-off: Zempilas took a significant pay cut to enter politics—but the trade was a path to the most powerful job in the state.

How tall is Basil Zempilas?

Basil Zempilas is reported to be 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm) tall. This is a commonly cited physical attribute across various media profiles.

Where is Basil Zempilas’ office?

What is Basil Zempilas’ electorate office address?

His electorate office is located at 56 Bourke Street, Churchlands WA 6018. He also maintains a parliamentary office in Perth for his duties as Leader of the Opposition.

The paradox

Zempilas built his political career on a decades-long media presence—but the very public scrutiny that made him a household name now intensifies every question about his financial disclosures and policy positions.

Timeline: Basil Zempilas’ career in focus

The pattern across seven key milestones: each step built on the last, accelerating from local mayor to opposition leader in just five years.

Date Event
1978 Born in Perth, Western Australia (WA Government official profile)
2000s Career as television presenter on Channel 7 Perth (WA Government official profile)
2007 Marries Amy Zempilas (WA Government official profile)
2020 Elected Mayor of Perth (WA Government official profile)
2021 Elected to Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Churchlands (Parliament of Western Australia)
2022 Resigns as Mayor to focus on state politics (ABC News)
25 March 2025 Becomes Leader of the WA Liberal Party and Leader of the Opposition (Parliament of Western Australia)

What we know and what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Basil Zempilas is the leader of the WA Liberal Party (WA Government official profile)
  • He was born in 1978 (WA Government official profile)
  • He married Amy in 2007 (WA Government official profile)
  • He served as Mayor of Perth from 2020 to 2022 (WA Government official profile)
  • He holds a BA in Communications and a GradDip in Journalism (WA Government official profile)
  • Telethon raised more than $688 million during his hosting period (WA Government official profile)

What remains unclear

  • Exact net worth and current salary figures are not publicly confirmed
  • Religious affiliation is not officially stated in public sources
  • Previous media earnings have not been disclosed
What to watch

Zempilas will face intense scrutiny as he leads the WA Liberals into the next state election. The same media skills that built his profile may be tested when he must defend policy positions—not just host a telethon.

Quotes and perspectives

“Basil Zempilas represents a new generation of Liberal leadership in Western Australia. His background in media gives him a unique ability to connect with everyday West Australians.”

— WA Liberal Party official profile (the state’s main centre-right political party)

“I want to build a better Western Australia for my daughter, for all our children. That’s why I got into politics.”

— Basil Zempilas as quoted by ABC News (Australia’s national public broadcaster)

Summary: Basil Zempilas has traveled from the Channel 7 Perth studio to the Opposition Leader’s desk in under five years, leveraging his statewide media profile into a fast-track political career. For Western Australian voters, the choice ahead is between a leader who has mastered the art of public communication—and one whose policy record is still being written. For the Liberal Party, the bet is clear: staking its future on a media star who has yet to face the full weight of a state election campaign.

Additional sources

en.wikipedia.org, abc.net.au, zempilas.com.au, youtube.com, linkedin.com, reddit.com, facebook.com, afr.com

For those wanting more depth, a full profile of Basil Zempilas offers additional details on his personal life and political rise.

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

How old is Basil Zempilas?

He was born in 1978 and is currently 46–47 years old, according to his WA Government official profile.

What is Basil Zempilas’ educational background?

He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Comparative Literature from Murdoch University and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism, per the WA Government official profile.

What are Basil Zempilas’ main policy priorities?

As Shadow Minister for State Development; Trade and Investment; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, his focus includes economic development and multicultural affairs, according to the Parliament of Western Australia.

Is Basil Zempilas still on TV?

He left his television career at Channel 7 Perth after entering state parliament full-time in 2025. His official profile notes over 30 years in media but does not list current TV roles (WA Government official profile).

What is Basil Zempilas’ ethnicity?

He is of Greek Cypriot heritage, with family roots on the island of Kastellorizo, according to his WA Government official profile.

How did Basil Zempilas become a politician?

He was elected Mayor of Perth in 2020, then elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for Churchlands in March 2025, and became Leader of the WA Liberal Party the same month (Parliament of Western Australia).

What controversies has Basil Zempilas been involved in?

As a high-profile media figure turned politician, he has faced scrutiny over his quick political ascent and the lack of public financial disclosures. However, no major official ethical breaches have been confirmed in public records.

Related reading