Western Australian federal MP Dennis Jensen misses out on preselection for safe Liberal seat

Dennis Jensen, the Liberal federal MP who attracted headlines last week for his unpublished racy novel, has missed out on preselection.

His challenger, former state Liberal director Ben Morton, was the victor at a meeting today, but the decision will still need to be ratified by State Council next weekend.

Dr Jensen was backed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who recommended he be re-endorsed for the federal election, but pre-selectors still chose to dump him from the safe Liberal seat of Tangney, which he has held since 2004.

There have been two previous attempts to oust Dr Jensen - he was saved once by former Prime Minister John Howard and another time by State Council, but they are unlikely to do it again.

Dr Jensen made headlines last week after it was revealed that several years ago he pitched a novel, involving graphic sex and a fictional war between Australia and an Indonesia-China coalition, to a publisher using his parliamentary letterhead.

He admitted it was a mistake but questioned the timing of the leak.

Dr Jensen also controversially lashed out at indigenous welfare programs recently, saying taxpayers should not fund "noble savage" lifestyle choices of remote communities.

He is also an outspoken climate change sceptic and opposes same-sex marriage.

Dr Jensen has been sought for comment.