Zak Kirkup must unite a fractured WA Liberal Party — and that may not even be his biggest task

In some ways, the new WA Liberal leadership team will serve as a counter to some of the biggest criticisms levelled against the party.

Ever since the party was annihilated at the 2017 election, the Liberals have been accused of lacking energy, young talent and fresh ideas — a party full of relics from the Barnett years, according to critics.

But the Opposition can now counter that by pointing to a 33-year-old leader in Zak Kirkup — a rookie by political standards, in his first term of Parliament, who even critics would acknowledge isn’t lacking in drive and determination.

Also repeatedly criticised for having a ‘women problem’, with female representation in the partyroom sorely lacking, the Liberals can also point to new deputy leader…