The Prime Minister held a campaign event in the Perth seat of Fremantle this morning, but the local Liberal candidate was nowhere to be seen and Malcolm Turnbull disowned a number of his contentious views.

Sherry Sufi, who has refused multiple interview requests from ABC News, is the WA Liberal Party policy chairman.

He has been preselected as the party's candidate for the seat of Fremantle, but Mr Turnbull brushed aside questions about his absence from the campaign event at the Austal ship yard in Henderson.

"This is a national announcement," he said.

"I'm the Prime Minister and I hope he's out there engaging with the people of Fremantle and doing good door-knocking. [It's] very character-building. I've done it myself."

Mr Sufi made headlines today over controversial comments he has made about same-sex marriage and constitutional recognition.

In February, Mr Sufi told Buzzfeed that recognising Indigenous Australians in the constitution was "a move to divide the country".

And in 2013, he linked same-sex marriage with polygamy and polyamory.

Mr Turnbull was asked about both issues and confirmed he did not agree with the candidate's stance on either.

WA Premier Colin Barnett also was not at the event. Opinion polls indicate he and his Government are on the nose.

His Treasurer also recently supported Palmer United Senate candidate Dio Wang.

Liberal senators representing the state, Linda Reynolds and Chris Back, were at the announcement, but stood off to the side.