WA election 2025: Roger Cook and Libby Mettam prepare to go head-to-head in Seven’s leader’s debate on Monday

For weeks, they have each criss-crossed the State, trying to convince voters they should vote for them. They’ve traded insults. Premier Roger Cook accusing Libby Mettam’s Liberals of being “lazy”. Ms Mettam labelling Mr Cook “a failed health minister”. Now, with just two weeks to go before the March 8 poll, the two face-off in Seven’s leader’s debate on Monday. Can we expect fireworks, when the two meet on Monday? “We will obviously be exchanging our ideas and policies, but obviously, we’ll be civil,” Mr Cook said of the debate. “And make sure the Western Australian community understands that politics can be both an exercise in courtesy and competitive policies and ideas.” Mettam said the debate would be a chance to reach out to voters. “It is another opportunity for me to speak to the people of Western Australia and sell our message, which is all about fixing the mess that’s been created under the Cook-Labor government’s watch,” she said. Tim McMillan will MC the debate between Mr Cook and Ms Mettam. It’ll be live on 7 from 6.30pm on Monday (February 24) from the studios in Osborne Park. 7NEWS will finalise five topics nominated by the audiences of Seven West Media. Each leader will get 45 seconds to talk about that topic — followed by 3½ minutes of debate. 7NEWS will share topics but not questions on Monday morning. The debate will be moderated by 7NEWS State Political Editor Geof Parry and The West Australian State Political Editor Jessica Page. An audience of 21 people independently selected — made of up seven traditional Labor voters, seven traditional Liberal voters and seven other/undecided voters will decide a debate winner Mr Cook said televised debates had become part of election traditions in WA. “It’s always been one of those election events that everyone anticipates,” he said. “I think there will be a lot of people tuning in. “There is also now a lot of people consuming their information and their news and current affairs across a whole range of different platforms. “So, the opportunity to be able to present on free-to-air television on Monday night is obviously a great one, and I’m really looking forward to the opportunity.” Did Mr Cook expect to win the debate? “We are going to make every post a winner in this election, including the debate,” Mr Cook said. When asked how Ms Mettam would determine her success on the night, she said she was fully focused on the result of election night. “Ultimately my focus is on speaking to the people of Western Australia,” she said. “The only metric that I’m focused on is the metric on the 8th of March and ensuring that we have a change of government.”