A spokesman for the party has characterised the issue as a long-running feud between two senior people in the Durack division

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Western Australia police are investigating claims senior people in state Liberal party ranks have been distributing pornographic memes.

Ken Seymour has stood aside as the party’s Durack division president and the former branch president Gordon Thomson is facing an internal party disciplinary process and may be expelled, the Guardian has confirmed.

“Police have received a complaint and the matter is being investigated,” a WA police spokeswoman said.

A spokesman for the WA Liberals characterised the issue as a long-running feud between the duo.

“This is a personal dispute between two individuals that is unrelated to the party, however the party is and will take disciplinary action as necessary and will continue to assist authorities in their investigation,” the spokesman said.

It is understood the distasteful memes date back to around 2014 but have resurfaced again in recent months.

The environment minister, Melissa Price, holds the rural federal seat of Durack.

The party spokesman said the saga was unlikely to affect Price’s campaign for re-election ahead of the upcoming federal poll because neither individual was involved in her team.

Seymour is expected to seek preselection as a candidate in the next WA state election and has not responded to media inquiries.