A planned West Australian Nationals fundraiser aboard an Australian Navy warship has been cancelled after it was identified as an inappropriate use of military facilities.
The $1000 per head fundraiser was scheduled to take place on board the HMAS Perth at the Stirling Naval Base this month, with Nationals leader Terry Redman and deputy Mia Davies among the special guests.
Nationals MP and organiser Paul Brown said the decision was made on Tuesday to cancel the fundraiser after an internal process deemed it an inappropriate use of Commonwealth infrastructure.
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"We probably should have identified that earlier," Mr Brown told AAP.
The warship fundraiser was criticised by the WA Opposition defence spokesman Paul Papalia who labelled the private event a "disgrace" and called for federal intervention on Thursday.
"A non-partisan, apolitical defence force is a central pillar of the Australian democracy, everyone knows this, the military know it," he said.
"I think the Navy would be offended and outraged if they knew that the National party of WA were intending to conduct a party fundraiser on board Navy assets."
Mr Brown said he did not think the Australian Navy was aware that the purpose of the January 15 event was a political fundraiser.
The National MP said he had purchased the Naval luncheon package at a Royal Flying Doctors Service fundraiser last year, and had hoped to use the 20-person event as a National party fundraiser.
"The RFDS know I'm a member of parliament but we didn't specifically highlight that we were using this as a fundraiser and that's why we then came to the conclusion that it was inappropriate to use HMAS Perth for this kind of event."
Mr Brown said he would now invite disadvantaged children and families from his electorate to the event on board HMAS Perth.
Federal defence minister Marise Payne has been contacted for comment.
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