Basil Zempilas was born on July 30, 1971 (54 years old), in Perth, Western Australia. He is best known in Western Australia as a media figure turned senior politician.
Today, he serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly, Leader of the WA Liberal Party, and the Member for Churchlands.
Before moving fully into politics, Basil built a long career in television, radio, and sports broadcasting. He worked with the Seven Network, co-hosted Weekend Sunrise, covered major sports for AFL and Olympic coverage, and became widely known in Perth through local media and Telethon. He also served as the Lord Mayor of Perth before entering State Parliament.
That mix of media experience, public visibility, and political leadership has kept Basil Zempilas in the spotlight.
Keep reading Basil Zempilas’s Wiki to learn more about his family, wife, career, education, net worth, and facts.
Basil Zempilas Wiki & Early Life
| Full Name | Basil Anthony Zempilas |
| Profession | Politician, broadcaster, commentator |
| Age | 54 years old |
| Date of Birth | July 30, 1971 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Zodiac/Sun Sign | Leo |
| Birthplace | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Current Address | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Email ID | basil.zempilas@mp.wa.gov.au |
Basil Zempilas Wife & Children
Basil Zempilas married Amy Zempilas on September 6, 2009, in Kastellorizo, Greece. They have both been married for 17 years now.
About Amy Zempilas
Amy is an Integrated Marketing Specialist at Driza-Bone and Rossi Boots by profession, and also has an online business of selling luxury items through her Instagram page. Additionally, she is also an ambassador of Linneys Jewellery.
Children
- Daughters: Ava Zempilas, born on March 9, 2011 (15 years old), and Chloe Zempilas, born on August 26, 2013 (12 years old).
- Son: Anthony Zempilas, born on July 22, 2017 (8 years old).
| Relationship Status | Married |
| Wife | Amy Zempilas |
| Children | Daughters: Ava Zempilas & Chloe Zempilas Son: Anthony Zempilas |
Basil Zempilas Family
Basil Zempilas comes from a close-knit Greek Australian family, and his public life often reflects those strong family roots.
Father: Anthony Zempilas
Basil Zempilas’s father was Anthony Zempilas (1928 – 2024), also referred to as Tony Zempilas.
Anthony first ran a small business called the Town Hall Fruit Palace in Perth. Later, he moved into mining exploration. He was also well known in Perth’s Greek community and spent many years volunteering as an emcee.
In a 2024 opinion piece, Basil wrote that his father had died at the age of 96 and described him as his inspiration, teacher, and mate.
Mother: Jessie Zempilas
Basil Zempilas’ mother, Jessie Zempilas, was born in Kastellorizo, Greece. She is known for her strong support for her family and community. In 1996, she received the Order of Australia Medal, or OAM, for her service to the community.
Siblings
Basil grew up with his two elder sisters named Diane & Roslyn, and more details about them are yet to be updated.
| Parent’s Name | Father: Anthony Zempilas Mother: Jessie Zempilas |
| Siblings | Sister: Diane & Roslyn |
Basil Zempilas Education
Basil Zempilas went to school in the Churchlands area of Perth. He attended Hale School, a private school in Perth.
Murdoch University
After school, Basil Zempilas continued his studies at Murdoch University. There, he completed a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Comparative Literature, along with a Graduate Diploma in Journalism.
| School | Hale School, Perth |
| Alma Mater | Murdoch University |
| Highest Qualification | Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Comparative Literature & Graduate Diploma in Journalism |
Basil Zempilas Career
Basil Zempilas has had one of the more varied public careers in Western Australia. He started in sport, moved into television and radio, became one of Perth’s best-known media personalities, then shifted into local government and State politics.
He built a media career of more than 30 years across television, radio, and print before entering Parliament.
Early sporting background
Before his media career took off, Zempilas played WAFL football for West Perth between 1990 and 1994.
That sporting background helped shape the direction of his later work, because he became best known as a sports presenter and commentator before moving into broader hosting and political roles.
Starting at Seven Network
Zempilas joined the Seven Network in Perth on February 22, 1994, as a cadet sports reporter.
He later spent 25 years at Seven and 17 years on the nightly television news, which shows how long and steady his TV career was.
Over time, he became one of the main sports faces on Seven News Perth. The current 7NEWS Perth team page still lists him among the network’s Perth personalities alongside Susannah Carr, Rick Ardon, Adrian Barich, and Angela Tsun.
During his wider seven years, he also worked with well-known sports broadcaster Dennis Cometti, and 7NEWS, with whom he had worked alongside each other at Channel 7.
TV hosting and sports commentary work
His seven-year career was not limited to reading sports on the news. He worked across Olympic coverage, AFL, tennis, and special event television.
Basil worked across nine Olympic Games, while older career profiles note he was involved in Seven’s Olympics coverage from the 2000 Sydney Games and later called Steven Bradbury’s famous gold medal win at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
He also had several local and national TV hosting roles. Basil’s Footy Show, co-hosted Perth at Five with Yvette Mooney, presented the AFL segment on Sportsworld with David Schwarz, and later hosted the 2019 federal Leaders’ Debate in Perth.
That debate featured questions from 7NEWS political editor Mark Riley and The West Australian political correspondent Lanai Scarr.
Weekend Sunrise
A major national step in his TV career came in March 2018, when he became co-host of Weekend Sunrise.
TV Tonight reported that he joined the program alongside Monique Wright after Andrew O’Keefe left. This role lifted his profile well beyond Perth and made him a regular national breakfast TV face.
He later stepped back from the regular Weekend Sunrise role in 2019, and Matt Doran was confirmed as his replacement from October 12, 2019.
Telethon and other public-facing Seven work
Another major part of his public profile was Telethon. Zempilas hosted Telethon from 2010 to 2024 and helped raise more than $688 million for sick children and medical research.
Telethon coverage from 2023 also showed him hosting a panel with Sunrise presenters Natalie Barr and Matt Shirvington, plus other TV names, Dr. Chris Brown.
Radio career
Zempilas also built a long breakfast radio career. A speaker profile states he has worked in both AM and FM breakfast radio since 2001. He spent six years on Perth’s 92.9 breakfast show before leaving in October 2013.
When he announced his exit, he had already started at the station with Em Rusciano and Sam Mac, and finished with Lisa Fernandez and Paul Hogan on Lisa, Paul & Baz.
His next major radio role came at 6PR. In 2014, he joined Steve Mills on 6PR Breakfast, and later reports said the pair worked together there for seven years.
He left 6PR at the end of 2020 after deciding to focus on his new role as Perth Lord Mayor.
Soon after that, he moved to Triple M Perth. In December 2020, he confirmed he would headline the station’s new breakfast show from January 18, 2021, with Jenna Clarke and Xavier Ellis.
Scaling back at Seven
In February 2022, TV Tonight reported that Zempilas would wind back his Seven News Perth duties and step away from presenting sport every night.
Move into local government
Zempilas formally moved into elected office in 2020. He was elected Lord Mayor of Perth in October 2020, in the first election held after the former council had been stood down.
He was later re-elected in 2023, with the City of Perth’s official notice stating he would hold office until October 16, 2027.
By March 2025, the City of Perth published his farewell message as he prepared to leave Council House and enter State Parliament.
State politics and current role
Zempilas won the seat of Churchlands and entered the Legislative Assembly. Official Parliament records say he was elected on March 8, 2025.
Soon after, the WA Liberal Party confirmed that he had been elected party leader on March 25, 2025, with Libby Mettam elected deputy leader. Parliament records list him as Leader of the Opposition from April 8, 2025.
That means his present-day career is fully centred on politics. He now works as Leader of the WA Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition, and Member for Churchlands.
Career Highlights
| Year | Role/Title | Organization/Project |
| 1990-1994 | WAFL player | West Perth Football Club |
| February 22, 1994 | Cadet sports reporter | Seven Network Perth |
| 1996 | Weekend sports anchor | Seven News Perth |
| 1997 | Host | Basil’s Footy Show |
| 1998 | Co-host | Perth at Five |
| 2000 | Olympics host | Tonight at the Games |
| 2002 | Olympic commentator | Winter Olympics |
| 2004 & 2008 | Olympic commentator | Summer Olympics |
| 2007-2013 | Breakfast radio co-host | 92.9 |
| 2010-2024 | Host | Telethon |
| 2012-2019 | AFL commentator and host | Seven AFL coverage |
| 2014-2020 | Breakfast radio co-host | 6PR Breakfast |
| March 2018-October 2019 | Co-host | Weekend Sunrise |
| 2019 | Host | 7NEWS Leaders’ Debate |
| October 2020 | Lord Mayor | City of Perth |
| January 2021 | Breakfast radio co-host | Triple M Perth |
| February 2022 | Semi-regular Seven role | Seven News Perth |
| 2023 | Re-elected Lord Mayor | City of Perth |
| March 8, 2025 | MLA for Churchlands | Parliament of Western Australia |
| March 25, 2025 | Leader | WA Liberal Party |
| April 8, 2025-present | Leader of the Opposition | Western Australia |
Basil Zempilas Controversies
Here is the table of Basil Zempilas publicly reported controversies:
| Year | Controversy | Detail |
| 2020 | Comments about transgender people | He faced backlash after making on-air remarks about transgender people on 6PR and later issued a public apology. |
| 2020 | Homelessness comments | Earlier comments about forcibly removing homeless people from Perth’s streets were raised again after he became Lord Mayor, and the ABC reported that he later apologised for those remarks. |
| 2023 | Women’s shelter closure | He drew criticism after defending the closure of Ruah’s Safe Night Space for women in East Perth, saying residents had raised concerns. |
| 2024 | Public criticism over past remarks and leadership style | A Guardian profile revisited criticism around his comments on homelessness and transgender issues as part of the debate over his political leadership. |
Basil Zempilas Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Basil Zemplias is $10 million.
Basil’s primary sources of income include his role as a television presenter, radio host, and commentator, alongside his ventures in public service.
| Net Worth in Dollars (Approx.) | $10 million |
Basil Zempilas Height, Weight & Physical Stats
Basil stands 6 feet 4¾ inches (195 cm) tall. He has blue eyes and dark brown hair.
| Height | In centimetres: 195 cm In meters: 1.95 m In feet & inches: 6 feet 4¾ inches |
| Hair Color | Dark brown |
| Eye Color | Blue |
Basil Zempilas Instagram, X, Facebook, LinkedIn
 @basil_zempilas | |
| X |  @basilzempilas |
 @BZempilas | |
 @basil zempilas | |
| Own site |  zempilas.com.au |
Interesting Facts About Basil Zempilas
- Basil Zempilas played WAFL football for West Perth before becoming well-known in the media.
- Zempilas is called Steven Bradbury’s famous gold medal win at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
FAQs
Who is Basil Zempilas?
Basil Zempilas is an Australian politician and former broadcaster from Perth, Western Australia. He is currently the Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia, Leader of the WA Liberal Party, and the Member for Churchlands.
What is Basil Zempilas famous for?
Basil Zempilas is famous for both politics and broadcasting. Before entering Parliament, he built a long career in television and radio, including work with Seven Network, Telethon, and breakfast radio in Perth.
What is Basil Zempilas’s current political role?
Basil Zempilas now serves as Leader of the Opposition in Western Australia and Leader of the WA Liberal Party. He has also held the shadow portfolios of State Development, Trade and Investment, and Citizenship and Multicultural Interests.
Which seat does Basil Zempilas represent?
Basil Zempilas represents the electorate of Churchlands in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly. He was elected at the State election held on March 8, 2025.
Was Basil Zempilas a TV presenter?
Yes, Basil Zempilas worked for many years in television. He was a sports presenter at Seven News Perth, worked on Seven Sport and Sunrise-related programs, and later became co-host of Weekend Sunrise.
Did Basil Zempilas work in radio, too?
Yes, Basil Zempilas also had a strong radio career in Perth. He worked at 6PR Breakfast with Steve Mills and later moved to Triple M Perth before stepping away from regular radio duties.
Was Basil Zempilas the Lord Mayor of Perth?
Yes, Basil Zempilas was elected Lord Mayor of Perth in October 2020 before moving into State politics. That role became a major part of his public career before he entered Parliament in 2025.
