MEMBER for Roe Dr Graham Jacobs looks likely to return to the Liberal front bench, following the shock resignation of Troy Buswell as the leader of the Liberal Party on Monday and the re-election of former leader Colin Barnett at a party meeting on Wednesday.

Despite surviving two leadership challenges during his controversy-plagued time as opposition leader - both of which Dr Jacobs was heavily involved with - Mr Buswell resigned on Monday, leading the leadership position of the party vacant.

Speculation had been rife that Mr Barnett would be nominate for the party leadership if Mr Buswell stood down, and that speculation was proved correct at a Liberal party meeting on Wednesday when Mr Barnett was nominated for the leadership unopposed.

This came despite Mr Barnett previously indicating he would be quitting politics at the next election.

Dr Jacobs said that now Mr Barnett has been elected to lead the party at the next election, they could put the focus back on policy, and not personality.

“He’s a man with leadership experience and he is clearly the best man to lead us at the next election,” Dr Jacobs said.

“Clearly Mr Buswell made the right decision to step down in the end, and now we can move on from that period.

“Not only can we move on, but we can also move forward, and I think that with Mr Barnett as our leader we have a real chance of winning the next election.”

Dr Jacobs also said there was a chance he could return to the front bench of the party, after handing in his resignation as both the party whip and shadow environment minister after his involvement in the second unsuccessful spill motion against Mr Buswell.

“Mr Barnett is on the record as saying that myself and Rob Johnstone should be on the front bench, so I think that speaks for itself and if I am offered a position on the front bench I would gladly accept it.”