WA Opposition Leader Mike Nahan has become embroiled in an escalating war of words with the state's biggest media company, accusing The West Australian newspaper of conducting a "hatchet job" on him.

Key points: Mike Nahan says voters aren't reading the newspaper or using mainstream media

Mike Nahan says voters aren't reading the newspaper or using mainstream media The West Australian has hit back but he says its response is "grossly over the top"

The West Australian has hit back but he says its response is "grossly over the top" Several Liberal MPs are also upset at Dr Nahan while Labor has sought to mock him

Dr Nahan's attack on the newspaper, owned by Seven West Media, follows a speech made to the Liberal Party's state conference on Sunday and subsequent remarks to journalists downplaying the relevance and influence of traditional media.

The Liberal leader pointed to falling ratings and circulation.

"In Darling Range [for the recent by-election] they weren't reading The West Australian, listening to the TV or listening to 6PR or 720 [ABC Radio Perth]," Dr Nahan said.

Dr Nahan used his speech to highlight the growing role of social media in elections. ( ABC News: David Weber )

The argument prompted an angry response from The West Australian, which declared Dr Nahan would "be extinct long before" the newspaper and that Labor was "delighted to have Nahan in the leader's chair opposite".

Channel Seven has since reported that the West Australian has "withdrawn support" for Dr Nahan as leader and the newspaper will not be sending any journalists to his upcoming press conferences.

Several Liberal MPs spoken to by the ABC were also upset at Dr Nahan for his comments, questioning his judgment for what they saw as picking a fight with the state's biggest media company.

But Dr Nahan hit back at the coverage of his state conference speech, insisting he had not sought to attack The West Australian or any media outlet.

"The West Australian chose to take it as an attack on them and do what I can only describe as a very public hatchet job on me," he told ABC Radio Perth.

"I think it says a lot about The West, not about me. The response by The West to this is grossly over the top."

Seven West Media owns The West Australian and The Sunday Times newspapers, along with Channel Seven, which has the state's highest-rated television news service.

The West Australian's editor, Brett McCarthy, dismissed Dr Nahan's accusation of a "hatchet job".

"If anyone has done a hatchet job, he has, on both us as the media and himself," Mr McCarthy said.

"I was completely baffled by it [Dr Nahan's speech], not just because he attacked the media but because he was wrong … we are still very very relevant to the people of Western Australia."

Labor ratchets up pressure on Nahan

The disquiet from Liberal MPs over Dr Nahan's comments comes amid long-running leadership tensions within the party, with many long having expressed doubts in private that the former treasurer can lead them to the 2021 election.

Dr Nahan in turn accused some colleagues of "white-anting" him earlier this month.

The State Government sought to mock Dr Nahan over the row, with several ministers seen prominently carrying pictures of the newspaper into their weekly cabinet meeting.

Deputy Premier Roger Cook said the Opposition Leader was trying to "absolve himself of any guilt of his own incompetence" by blaming the media.

"It just shows they are not capable or competent enough to represent the Liberal Party in the Parliament," he said.

Treasurer Ben Wyatt likened the comments to US President Donald Trump's attacks on the media.

"This whole idea that seems to come out of right-wing Americans of 'fake news' and 'fake media' seems to be infecting his own office," Mr Wyatt said.