Perth businessman Ronald Woss accuses Peter Collier and Nick Goiran of destroying the Liberal Party

A prominent Perth businessman and philanthropist has accused Liberal powerbrokers Peter Collier and Nick Goiran of destroying the party. Ronald Woss yesterday resigned from The 500 Club, the WA Liberal Party’s fundraising organisation of which he was a “foundation member”. In an email to The 500 Club’s board — and leaked to The West Australian — Mr Woss wrote: “On the club’s website it states: ‘The 500 Club strives to ensure Australia is governed according to conservative principles which nurture a vibrant free enterprise economy.’ “If only that was true. The Liberal side of politics in Western Australia is totally controlled by two Upper House Members, Peter Collier and Nick Goiran. “Together they have destroyed the Liberal Party. In two weeks, it is possible that the Country Party (Nationals WA) will have more seats in the Lower House than the Liberals. “The Liberal party will be decimated to a degree that would have been unimaginable, in the past. “Now their puppet Leader suggests the voting public, should at least vote Liberal in the Upper House to stop Labor having unfettered control. “That is code for: ‘We mean ourselves; Collier and Goiran.’ I would not trust either individual to run a corner shop!” The searing criticism from a long-time Liberal supporter comes as business heavyweights tonight host a $1500-a-head fundraiser for Mark McGowan and his Cabinet. The Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club event, co-sponsored by property developer Nigel Satterley and consults EY, is expected to raise $300,000 for Labor’s re-election campaign. Mr Satterley has been the most outspoken critic of the influence of Mr Collier and Mr Goiran. But the intervention by Mr Woss, who is jointly developing the Honeywood residential estate near Kwinana with Mr Satterley, is evidence of wider discontentment. In his resignation email, he went on to name-check two of his contemporaries in Perth’s philanthropic community — developers Syd Corser and Stan Perron. “True Liberals like the late Mr Syd Corser and Mr Stan Perron AC would turn over in their graves if they knew what has happened to the WA Liberal Party,” Mr Woss continued. “Both The 500 Club and the Liberal Party are doomed to abject failure, for eight years minimum, at best. “This is entirely the fault of powerbrokers, Collier and Goiran. I no longer wish to have anything more to do with either the WA Liberal Party or the WA 500 Club.” It’s understood Mr Woss, who declined to comment further yesterday, is not a Liberal Party member. Mr Collier didn’t respond to a request for comment, but Mr Goiran said: “I’ve never heard of Mr Woss but in any event my sole concern at the present time is the increasing overreach by Labor that has been the most secretive government since WA Inc.”