Perth Lord Mayor and former Weekend Sunrise presenter Basil Zempilas has responded to accusations he called the n Open women’s final the ‘reserves game’ while announcing his move into state politics.
In what many initially thought was a ‘career-ending’ gaffe, Mr Zempilas was heard asking 9News reporter Michael Genovese if the tennis was on tonight.
When Mr Genovese said it was the women’s final, many on social media claimed they heard the mayor reply: ‘It’s a reserves game then.’
The footage was broadcast by Perth online news organisation WAMN News and sparked immediate backlash.
‘How to end your career in 10 seconds,’ one person tweeted in response.
However, Mr Zempilas has since clarified in a lengthy tweet he was referring to Mr Genovese’s news bulletins as ‘being the reserves’ for the tennis.
Perth mayor Basil Zempilas appeared to let slip that he regards the n Open women’s final as a ‘reserves game’; however, he has since clarified that was not the intended meaning
‘Before today’s press conference Michael and I were talking about how presenting the news when a big sporting event is on at the same time means a small audience will watch the news,’ he tweeted just before 6pm on Saturday.
‘I then say to Michael words to the effect, “Are you reading the news tonight?” He says yes and I say, “The tennis is on tonight isn’t it?”
‘He then says, “The women’s final.” And I then say referring to reading the news against that broadcast, “it’s like the reserves then”.
‘Reading the news against the tennis was what I was referring to as “being the reserves”. Not the tennis. I can not make that any clearer or be any more emphatic.
‘It is totally disingenuous and flat out wrong to suggest otherwise and I will not be accused of having said something I did not say.’
Mr Genovese similarly tweeted: ‘This conversation has been taken completely out of context. Basil Zempilas was referring to the tennis and the news going head to head.’
Mr Zempilas on Saturday announced he would enter state politics and seek to be selected as the Liberal candidate for the Perth seat of Churchlands.
Daily Mail has contacted Mr Zempilas’ office for comment.
Mr Zempilas has worked a tennis commentator at the n Open as well as being host of Channel Seven’s Weekend Sunrise (pictured with Monique Wright)
The near-gaffe at the press conference came hot on the heels of a gushing front page on The West n trumpeting ‘Baz’ making a long-awaited move into state politics
Mr Zempilas worked as a commentator for Channel Seven’s coverage of the n Open during his long stint with the network that ran from 1994 to 2022.
During that time he was part of AFL and Olympics broadcasts and also became weekend anchor for breakfast TV show Weekend Sunrise.
He was elected Perth mayor in 2020 and reelected this year after only stepping back from all media roles in 2022.