Peter Dutton not attending WA Liberal State conference despite party wipeout against McGowan

The embattled WA Liberal Party has been dealt another massive blow, with Federal leader Peter Dutton pulling out of next weekend’s vital State conference.

Mr Dutton was expected to jet into Perth for the the two-day gathering of party faithful at the Pan Pacific and was slotted in to address attendees at 9.10am on Saturday.

The Sunday Times can reveal a change of plans means he will now skip the event.

“He has got a family commitment in Brisbane,” a spokesperson for Mr Dutton said on Saturday.

“But he will be sending a video message.”

The State conference is the biggest event of the year for the WA Liberals — and takes on added importance in 2022 as the party prepares to vote on historic reforms that would hand all rank-and-file members the right to vote on pre-selections in their electorates.

In the past, former Liberal leaders John Howard, Tony Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull and Scott Morrison have attended the event.

Mr Dutton’s non-attendance is a bitter blow for a party on the brink of extinction in WA.

The infamous State election massacre of 2021 saw just two Liberals returned to the Legislative Assembly — David Honey in Cottesloe and Libby Mettam in Vasse.

And in the May Federal election, the Liberals lost five crucial seats — Pearce, Swan, Hasluck, Tangney and Curtin — with WA voters delivering Anthony Albanese a majority government in Canberra.

Mr Dutton’s attendance at State conference was seen by WA Liberals as a significant reminder of the importance of the State in the Federal Liberal’s re-election plans.

“Given the election result was so bad in Western Australia it is critical the new leader comes to the conference,” a senior Liberal source said on Saturday.

“Failure to attend would send a bad message to Liberal supporters here.”

Mr Dutton’s attendance was also seen as significant because of moves at State conference to introduce reforms aimed at improving pre-selection processes and breaking the stranglehold of powerbrokers.

His non-attendance is also a bitter blow for WA Liberal leader Dr Honey who party sources say is under pressure to keep his job.

It’s understood Ms Mettam has the numbers to roll Dr Honey, but is refusing to challenge despite encouragement from Liberals outside of the parliamentary party to do so.

The Sunday Times has been told Ms Mettam has the support of at least five of nine Liberal MPs willing to back her — if she challenges Dr Honey.