on a taxpayer funded tour of Europe, reduced his effectiveness as Opposition Leader. Within the party he was criticised for his lack of inclusiveness in policy formation. These problems led Barnett's former deputy leader, Paul Omodei, to challenge Birney for the leadership. Omodei defeated Birney in a party room ballot held on 24 March 2006. Omodei stated he would consider offering Birney a position on the Liberal front bench, but Birney remained on the back bench thereafter. Birney's demise as WA Liberal leader was later echoed by that of South Australian Liberal leader Iain Evans a year later in 2007. Both Birney and Evans became their party's leaders following its defeat in the respective state elections only to be dumped a year later in a leadership coup. Birney became the first WA Liberal leader who did not lead the party to an election since the party's first leader, Ross McDonald. On 3 January 2008, Birney announced that he would be quitting politics for the corporate world, and duly retired at the 2008 state election. On 24 August 2014, The Sunday Times reported that Birney was considering a return to state politics, quoting him as saying that he had "unfinished business". He said he would not challenge a sitting member for pre-selection. As of April 2019, his return to state politics did not eventuate. References External links Goldfield larrikin's rapid rise up ranks A name to look out for rather than recall Birney takes stand on schoolyard bullies Inaugural speech (PDF) |- 1969 births Living people Leaders of the Opposition in Western Australia Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Western Australia People from Kalgoorlie 21st-century Australian politicians