MAJOR WA Liberal backers are seething over the knifing of Malcolm Turnbull and Julie Bishop, vowing to cut funding to the cash-strapped party in the lead up to the Federal election.

Influential property developer Nigel Satterley — who is not only a Liberal and Labor donor, but has played a leading role in sponsoring big fundraisers in Perth — said he and other “prominent” business leaders would be “giving nothing” to Liberal headquarters while powerbrokers continued to influence State and Federal party matters as well as pre-selections.

A known Turnbull and Bishop supporter, Mr Satterley was particularly savage on WA Liberal senator and powerbroker Mathias Cormann.

Mr Cormann had taken away his support for the former PM and backed Queenslander Peter Dutton for the top job.

Neither Senator Cormann nor any of his fellow WA Federal colleagues supported Ms Bishop for the leadership.

And in another blow for the Liberals, party stalwart Danielle Blain — another supporter of Ms Bishop and the Liberals’ top fundraiser in the west — yesterday said she was considering her future role within the party.

“With the influence of powerbrokers Cormann, Peter Collier and Nick Goiran — and because of a lack of transparency and good governance where the best candidates can’t get through and get selected — and because of the actions of Cormann in the political assassination of the prime minister, the business community will be very reluctant to make donations to the WA Liberal Party head office,” Mr Satterley said.

“We will be giving nothing to head office. We will not sponsor any fundraising where the money goes to head office.

“We want the powerbrokers out of there and we want the best people to be preselected. We want them (Mathias Cormann, Peter Collier, and Nick Goiran) to move on.”

Mr Satterley said Ms Bishop deserved better from her WA colleagues.

“We are very disappointed about Julie – she is an icon of Australian politics,” Mr Satterley said.

“For one of the best federal performers to be treated like that was despicable conduct.”

Senator Cormann declined to comment.