The WA Labor Party managed to embarrass itself in the full glare of the cameras over the weekend when its state conference exploded into a scene of walkouts and infighting.

Key points: The WA Labor Party conference is its major annual event

The WA Labor Party conference is its major annual event It became a public fight after a group aligned to the right faction walked out

It became a public fight after a group aligned to the right faction walked out Tensions remained high on the second day in front of federal leader Anthony Albanese

The tension began on day one, with keynote speaker and WA Premier Mark McGowan forced to speak to a half-empty room after the mass walkout during the introduction and Welcome to Country.

Things remained awkward on day two, with federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese flying in to deliver his address in the middle of a full-blown factional firestorm.

So what is actually going on in the Labor Party and what will the ramifications be?

Who is fighting whom within Labor?

A new alliance within the party called Progressive Labor was formed in 2017 to take on the dominance of the Left faction within the WA party at the time.

Right faction unions banded together with the maritime and construction unions, traditionally from the left, to better influence Labor policies and the preselection of candidates for state and federal elections.

On the weekend, we saw these realigned factions butting heads again.

In one corner is United Voice and the Australian Metal Workers Union (AMWU).

In the other, there is the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), the Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association (SDA), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and the Australian Workers Union (AWU).

What kicked off the dispute?

Federal MP for Perth Patrick Gorman moved a motion on Saturday at the conference to disqualify an MUA delegate who allegedly did not meet signup requirements.

This prompted members of Progressive Labor to walk out during the Welcome to Country and a tribute to late former prime minister Bob Hawke.

The room was still half empty when Premier Mark McGowan gave his address.

WA Premier Mark McGowan was left speaking to a half-empty room after the walkout. ( ABC News: Andrew O'Connor )

The John Setka stoush follows Albo out west

Tensions boiled over again the next day when members of the CFMEU and MUA refused to join in a standing ovation for federal Labor leader Anthony Albanese, over his push to expel Victorian union boss John Setka from the party.

Progressive Labor members then walked out a second time after losing two votes to the left.

The MUA failed in its motion to have Fremantle Port's life extended for another two decades instead of going ahead with the McGowan Government's plans to build a new port in Kwinana.

The left also got its way on a vote to limit the power of some branches.

Why has it come to a head now?

A party's state conference is the time to test the waters on support for a range of issues.

Until delegates have a chance to vote, it is not necessarily clear which faction has control on a particular issue.

Anthony Albanese and Mark McGowan at the end of the federal leader's keynote address. ( ABC News: Andrew O'Connor )

At last year's state conference the right, with the recently-formed Progressive Labor, asserted its power.

But this year, the left had some clear wins.

Although it lost the vote on Saturday to expel the MUA delegate, it won the vote on the critical issue of Fremantle Port and an outer harbour.

It also won the vote to limit the number of delegates that can be sent to conference from direct branches, which are branches often formed around an issue — such as Labor women or country Labor — rather than a geographical location or electoral seat.

How much of a problem is this for Mark McGowan?

Labor factional brawls are nothing new, but the Premier would be far from happy with a state conference dominated by walkouts, a boycott of his speech and a challenge to his Government's outer harbour policy during open hostility between the dominant factions.

Labor's divisions laid bare are a gift to the Liberal Opposition, which has renewed its push for the Roe 8 highway project to Fremantle Port as the solution to Perth's freight problems, instead of an outer harbour.

It does not help Mr McGowan that two of his MPs, Kyle McGinn and Martin Pritchard, were seen voting in favour of the MUA's Fremantle Port motion.

But so far his cabinet is holding the line, including those from the old right faction.

Bill Johnston voted against the MUA motion. He denied the outer harbour issue would rip the party apart and said it was the policy Labor took to the last State election.

Mr Johnston said it was time for people to put the interests of the party before their own, and directly criticised the union leaders in Progressive Labor on the walkouts at the conference.

"Look, there were very bad decisions made by Progressive Labor," Mr Johnston said.

"I've been a proud member of the right for a long time.

"The right of the Labor Party is the common sense side of the Labor party, so when common sense is abandoned, you can't get good outcomes."

Police Minister Michelle Roberts, also from the old right, was not impressed.

WA Police Minister Michelle Roberts was not impressed with the antics of her factional allies. ( ABC News: Eliza Laschon )

"Clearly, I stayed in the room for the Indigenous welcome and the Premier's speech," she said.

"I don't agree with anyone who left the room. That was just wrong."

What will be the ongoing fallout?

The MUA is not going to back off.

It will keep fighting the McGowan Government's plan for an outer harbour regardless of any ongoing disruption within the party.

The union's state secretary, Christy Cain, describes it almost as an existential issue for his members, claiming 8,000 families will be left "on the scrapheap" if Fremantle Port is replaced.

"We are not racists, we are not bigots, we are not bullies," Mr Cain said.

"We are trade unionists standing up for what is right … stand up for Fremantle Port."

Maritime Union boss Christy Cain has been a public critic of both the Fremantle Port closure and of Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. ( ABC News )

As key members of Progressive Labor, the MUA and the CFMEU will continue to cause headaches for members of the old right like Mr Johnston and the Government as a whole.

If the disunity continues through to the next election campaign, it could cost the McGowan Government dearly.

In the meantime, there have already been casualties.

SDA state secretary Peter O'Keeffe, considered a moderating voice, has told the ABC he is no longer a member of the Labor party.

That is a significant blow, but Ms Roberts was today trying to play down the chaos of the weekend.

"I think it's like any family," she said. "You have your issues and then you get back together again."