A day after Colin Barnett suggested Roe 8 protesters were defecating in workers’ cars, the premier has got up-close-and-personal with opponents of the controversial highway extension.

And depending on how you look at it, it’s either evidence of Mr Barnett’s sense of humour, or proof that he needs a keener eye for the fine print.

A photo taken at the annual Rottnest Channel Swim, shows a cheery looking Mr Barnett - who acts as starter for the event - with four competitors.

It could be any race-day happy snap, except for the decidedly government-unfriendly slogan written on the women’s arms: two lots of #putlibslast and another pair of “drowning in debt$.”

Play Video Colin Barnett was followed by a bizarre protest today. The West Australian Video Colin Barnett was followed by a bizarre protest today.

Mr Barnett raised the ire of Roe 8 opponents yesterday when he suggested there were some decidely “dirty” tactics being employed by protesters.

“(I was) talking to the workers and what these workers and young apprentices have had to put up with – abuse, people jumping on their machinery while they’re operating it and, I don’t like to say it, defecating in vehicles,” Mr Barnett said.

“That’s the sort of behaviour we’re seeing in Western Australia, that is not the Australian way, it’s disgusting.”

Those claims were disputed by protest groups, including the Rethink the Link organsation, which countered by saying allegations of a cost blow-out on the project were proof that you “cannot polish a turd.”

The Barnett government’s decision to pursue the extension of Roe Highway through the Beeliar Wetlands has generated considerable debate and there has been constant friction between protesters, police and workers since work began.

Labor leader Mark McGowan has promised to scrap the project if he wins next month’s election.

But the topic was noticeably absent when the two leaders engaged in a televised debate on Channel 7 earlier this week.