Turnbull bolsters WA Liberal coffers

A select group of bankers and other leading business people have paid $10,000 a head to dine with the prime minister at a Liberal Party fundraiser in Perth.

The West Australian newspaper reported at least 15 business chiefs attended the dinner with Malcolm Turnbull and WA Premier Colin Barnett in the Macquarie Bank boardroom on Sunday night.

Mr Turnbull told 6PR radio on Monday he "did indeed" have a dinner.

"It was in the city and there were some leading business figures," Mr Turnbull said.

But he said the most important news for the state was a $100 million upgrade of the defence shipbuilding infrastructure at Henderson, which he will visit on Monday.

Mr Barnett faces a tough election on March 11, with polls pointing to a Labor win.