Mark McGowan appears to be relishing the demise of the federal Liberal Party after Labor’s barnstorming election win, positioning Australia’s relationship with China into a political attack on Peter Dutton.

The WA Premier questioned the intelligence of the former defence minister, attacked the Liberals, Clive Palmer and the national press gallery after his party’s strong election result on Saturday.

6PR Breakfast host Gareth Parker said McGowan got “a few things off his chest” after calling a morning press conference to launch his attack, which Liberal heavyweights labelled “arrogant”.

McGowan said he hoped the Albanese government would get Australia’s relationship with China on a surer footing given WA relies heavily on the superpower for trade, after Dutton – in line to be the next leader of the Liberals – warned the nation must prepare for war against their Asian neighbour.

“He’s an extremist and I don’t think he fits with modern Australia at all, and he doesn’t seem to listen,” the WA Premier claimed on Monday.

“I actually don’t think he’s that smart, I’ve seen him present on things I don’t really pick up there’s much there as opposed to Scott Morrison who is a clever guy.”

Albanese today joined Japanese PM Fumio Kishida in Tokyo alongside US president Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Quad meeting, with Pacific stability high on the agenda.

Press PLAY to hear Gareth Parker’s take on the WA Premier’s recent comments