Liberals eye Moore for the top job

Liberal elder Norman Moore is weighing a run at the soon-to-be vacant presidency of the WA branch of the party.

Incumbent president and Bunbury businessman Geoff Prosser, a former Federal MP, said yesterday he would stand down at the Liberal Party's State conference in August, citing increased work commitments.

It is understood some Liberals have been urging Mr Moore to fill the role, believing he will bring the party's organisational and parliamentary wings closer.

A respected and experienced voice, he would also have authority to tap some long-serving State MPs on the shoulder ahead of preselections for the 2017 election in the name of renewal.

Mr Moore, who retired last year after 37 years in the Upper House, confirmed he had been approached about the role.

"I have been approached by a couple of people to give some thought to it and that's about as far as it's got at this point," he said. "I am giving some thought to it and I will make a decision fairly soon."

Mr Moore did not believe his job as chairman of lobbying and strategic communications company Cannings Purple would be an obstacle if he decided to run.

Last October, with revelations about links between lobbyists and politicians spilling from NSW's Independent Commission Against Corruption, Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared Liberal office-bearers could not be lobbyists.

"I'm determined to ensure you can either be a powerbroker or a lobbyist but you can't be both," Mr Abbott said at the time.

Mr Moore said yesterday he was not a lobbyist but the chairman of Cannings Purple's board.

At least one other vacancy on State executive will need to be filled, with senior vice-president Richard Wilson also set to stand down.

Nominations for the positions close on June 25.