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Birney dumped as WA Liberal leader. 24 March 2006. Kalgoorlie News
[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/australia/wa/kalgoor/200603/s1600092.htm]
Birney dumped as WA Liberal leader
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Out: Matt Birney has been toppled as the leader of the Liberal Party in WAABC TV
Paul Omodei has been elected the new leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party, toppling Matt Birney.
Upper House MP Ray Halligan announced the result after the party's 33 MPs met at Parliament House to vote on a challenge by Mr Omodei.
The meeting lasted for a little over half an hour.
"The party room meeting has decided, those figures would not be divulged," Mr Halligan said.
Mr Birney says he will not be serving on the frontbench or in a reshuffled shadow Cabinet.
"I will now take some time to consider my future in this industry," he said.
"I am now reconsidering a long-standing job offer in the corporate sector, and I am also giving some consideration to going back into business for myself."
Birney supporter Rob Johnson says the real loser will be the Liberal Party.
He says it remains to be seen whether the party can close ranks after the ballot.
"There is obviously a division within the Liberal Party and I have said who I think is responsible for that," he said.
"And that's not going to change overnight. How long it will take, I don't know."
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