Opposition leader Mia Davies has expressed disappointment and concern after private text messages between WA Premier Mark McGowan and the billionaire owner of The West Australian Kerry Stokes were revealed in the Federal Court in Sydney on Wednesday.

She told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings that she did not support Mr Palmer’s current defamation action but it was worrying a premier had given a media tycoon a heads up on crucial legislation in state parliament before anyone else.

“It had ramifications that probably deserved a bi-partisan approach but it wasn’t afforded to us,” she told Bartlett.

Mr McGowan sent a message to Mr Stokes a minute before tabling the legislation in parliament.

He also thanked Mr Stokes for his support, and praised front pages on his newspaper that depicted Mr Palmer as a cockroach and cane toad.

Bartlett said the texts between the Premier and Mr Stokes gave an insight into the management of government in this state “and the transparency – or not – of how the executive branch of government makes its decisions in the name of taxpayers, that’s you and me”.

Bartlett also reminded listeners of Mr McGowan’s 2017 election promise to “uphold a gold standard of transparency”.

Press PLAY below to hear the text messages and Liam’s chat with Ms Davies.