Colin Barnett's verbal jab at journalists on Sunday after reporters relentlessly bombarded the Premier again about the Liberal's deal with One Nation will never appear as a footnote in history books.
When political pundits mull over the results of the March 11th state election, it won't even be regarded as a defining moment of the campaign.
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WA Premier hits out at media coverage
Colin Barnett has hit out at the media calling the election coverage "weak" and "trite" and telling journalists to raise their game. Vision: Nine News Perth.
But what is significant about the Premier losing his cool with reporters is that it was the moment he knew the election was a lost cause.
At a press conference Mr Barnett admitted he was "tricked" into posing for a photograph at the Rottnest Channel Swim with four women who had #putlibslast and "drowning in debt $" written down their arms.
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"That was a little bit of a political stunt," he said.
"I'm disappointed the media was involved (by running the photo)."
But then Mr Barnett became visibly agitated when he was once again grilled by reporters about the Liberals unprecedented preference deal with One Nation.
The usually unflappable Premier lost his cool.
Ever since the Liberals said it would put One Nation above their traditional allies the Nationals in the upper house in exchange for PHON's support in all lower house seats at the upcoming election, the Premier hasn't gone a day without being peppered about the deal by journalists.
"I'm not Pauline, I don't have red hair...I will wear a red wig and you can ask me about Pauline," he snapped.
He continued his attack on journalists claiming local scribes hadn't "scrutinised" Labor during the election campaign.
"I mean there is no scrutiny of Labor, how many times has Labor said it was going to repay debt by cutting advertising?," he said.
"I know at least four backbenchers who are angry and wanted to speak out, but were told to 'shut their gobs'."
"There is no scrutiny of that - you do not ask the questions."
He then dropped an extraordinary bombshell and raised his arms like Moses parting the sea.
"Ok, so raise your game," he told journalists.
For the first time in the campaign Mr Barnett "played the man".
He had ducked all the haymakers thrown at him by journalists throughout the campaign and has barely got a scratch.
But with the Liberals on the verge of getting booted out of office and with the Premier pinned to the ropes, another innocuous preference deal jab finally floored him.
Why? According to a high-ranking Liberal insider, the Premier is feeling the pressure from backbenchers who fear they will lose their seats come March 11th.
It's no secret a number of Liberals are miffed with the party's preference deal with One Nation, but the rift is widening after Muslim leaders told their followers earlier this month to put the Liberals last on the how-to-vote card.
The leaders have distributed pamphlets at mosques saying a Labor win and as many Greens as possible in Parliament would be an ideal state election outcome.
"There are now a number of MP's panicking because they feel they will now lose their seat after the Muslim leaders told their followers to put the Liberals last," the Liberal insider said.
"I know at least four backbenchers who are angry and wanted to speak out, but were told to 'shut their gobs' and get out and door knock instead of complaining.
"Eleni (Evangel) knows the party has all but conceded she will lose her seat, that is why she has spoken out.
"The party's polling shows six seats are gone and [The Liberals] are clinging onto another four to six."
So far only Ms Evangel, who holds the seat of Perth with a margin of just 2.8 per cent, has openly criticised the party's deal with One Nation.
And as the Liberal source said, party HQ has all but given up winning in Perth with Labor high profile candidate John Carey expected to win the inner-city seat.
Liberal MP Jan Norberger, who holds the seat of Joondalup with a tick over 10 per cent, is one of the incumbent members whose seat is looking shaky.
He said there was absolutely no truth to the rumours a number of backbenchers were "panicking" about losing their seats.
"I don't have an issue with the preference deal," he said.
"There is two weeks to go before the election and I'm just getting on with it."
Mr Norberger might be "getting on with the job", but it is clear a number of MP's and the Premier are fighting for their political lives.
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