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The two female West Australian Senators, Cabinet Minister Michaelia Cash and Linda Reynolds, have stared down a rogue push to have them dropped to the bottom of the Liberal party's Senate ticket.
The order decided by State council has seen dumped minister David Johnston relegated to the unwanted sixth spot.
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann leads the ticket, followed by Senator Cash, Dean Smith, Linda Reynolds and Chris Back.
Rural party members were worried that a push to prevent Senator Back, a regional representative for the state, from being placed last on the ticket would see Senators Cash and Reynolds sidelined.
But the preselection has also exposed tensions within the party centred around Senator Dean Smith with private accusations he was seeking the number two spot, ahead of Senator Cash, a Cabinet Minister.
Senator Smith sent an email 48 hours before the preselection which said "I am now seeking your support to be actively considered for the number 3 spot on the WA Liberal Senate Ticket."
A senior source said at the same time the email was sent, Senator Smith's supporters in the Swan division were phoning requesting he be voted in at number two. Senators appearing in Estimates hearings in Canberra on Friday were also amazed to see Senators Smith and Johnston leave for Perth before the committees concluded at 11pm on Friday night.
Senator Smith attended every hearing and left in the early evening, hours after Senator Johnston departed for Perth leaving behind a pile of documents, in a move designed to look like he was still there.
The Liberal party's federal executive last month adopted a recommendation made by Senator Reynolds that the party adopt 50-50 female-male representation. The Labor party in contrast has mandatory quotas.
But the immediate prospects for improved female representation look grim. Out of the 14 preselections held to replace retiring MPs, just one woman has been preselected - Nicole Flint in the marginal seat of Boothby. Three women, Sharman Stone, Bronwyn Bishop and Teresa Gambaro retired, two from safe seats.
In Queensland, the only woman on the ticket, Joanna Lingdren who also has indigenous heritage, was dropped to the bottom of the ticket.
