The WA Opposition is claiming Premier Mark McGowan deliberately tricked taxpayers out of more than $12,000 for a trip to Sydney to raise funds for the NSW Labor Party.

Key points: The Government said the trip was mainly to discuss NSW infrastructure projects

The Government said the trip was mainly to discuss NSW infrastructure projects Opposition Leader Mike Nahan has dismissed that explanation as a "ruse"

Opposition Leader Mike Nahan has dismissed that explanation as a "ruse" An Opposition motion to condemn the Premier over the trip failed in Parliament



But the State Government has rejected the claim, saying the Opposition was "clutching at straws".

Mr McGowan travelled to NSW in November last year, where he met with the state's Transport Minister Andrew Constance.

He also attended a $3000-a-head ALP fundraiser and met with several senior Labor Party figures during the trip.

In response to questions from the Opposition, the Government told Parliament earlier this month the primary purpose of the trip was to discuss NSW's major infrastructure projects.

"Learning from the experience of the current New South Wales infrastructure program will deliver an ongoing benefit to the state as we roll out Metronet and implement Infrastructure WA," Leader of the House Sue Ellery told the Legislative Council.

Minister meeting a 'ruse': Nahan

Arriving at State Parliament today, Opposition Leader Mike Nahan brushed that explanation aside as a "ruse", saying the meeting with Mr Constance lasted only 30 minutes.

Mike Nahan has called on Mr McGowan to at least pay back the cost of the trip. ( ABC News: Eliza Laschon )

"[The Premier] went to Sydney to do a $3,000-per-head fundraiser for the NSW Labor party," Dr Nahan said.

"That trip was paid for by the West Australian taxpayers. At the very least, he should pay it back.

"It was a ruse to have the state pay for his trip to Sydney to raise money for the NSW Labor Party."

The total cost of the Premier's travel was $12,351.

Mr McGowan also met with former prime minister Bob Hawke, former WA premier Geoff Gallop, former NSW premier and foreign minister Bob Carr and NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley, Parliament was told.

A spokesman for the Premier said Mr McGowan also met with Infrastructure NSW chief executive Jim Betts following the meeting with Mr Constance, and said the initial meeting went for more than an hour, not 30 minutes as claimed.

"The Opposition is incorrect in claiming the visit was for a fundraiser. They are clutching at straws here," the spokesman said.

McGowan defends trip during debate

The Opposition moved a motion in Parliament to condemn the Premier over the trip.

Deputy Liberal leader Liza Harvey said Mr McGowan did not even have a full day's itinerary and it was clear he had gone to Sydney for the fundraiser, which was billed as a $3,000-a-head "intimate dinner" with Mr McGowan to learn about what his Government was doing.

"The Premier's used $12,000, taken his chief of staff [and] $12,000 worth of taxpayers money to go on a junket over to Sydney for a 30-minute conversation with the NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure," Ms Harvey said.

"It's a disgrace."

In reply, Mr McGowan told MPs the meeting with Mr Constance actually went for about an hour and a quarter.

He pointed out Prime Minister Scott Morrison recently came to WA and held a fundraiser, while Dr Nahan had spent $14,000 for a trip which was "partly for a family holiday in the United States".

The motion was defeated.