Ignoring One Nation like 'ignoring will of people', Basil Zempilas warns

Basil Zempilas made his remarks during a speech to the business community in Perth. (ABC News: Keane Bourke )

WA Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas says One Nation deserves "respect" and ignoring the party would be like "ignoring the will of the people".

Mr Zempilas says he has an "open mind" about finding a way to work with the party.

In a speech to the business community, the WA Liberal leader outlined six policy commitments, including building a new hospital at Yanchep and extending Sunday trading hours.

Pauline Hanson's One Nation deserves "respect", according to Western Australia's Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, who says he is open to finding a way of working with the minor party as support for it grows.

In a Newspoll published by The Australian today, which surveyed 1,240 voters across the country, One Nation received 31 per cent of the primary vote, ahead of Labor (30 per cent) and the Coalition (18 per cent) for the first time.

In one of his first major speeches to the business community as leader of the WA Liberals, Mr Zempilas said ignoring One Nation "would be to ignore the will of the people".

"And if their support holds, inevitably it will be people in my position's job to find a way to work with, or alongside, One Nation. That will be important.

"And it's something that at this stage, almost three years away from our next state election, I have an open mind about."

Mr Zempilas says he has an open mind about finding a way to work with One Nation. (ABC News: Keane Bourke )

In just 12 months One Nation's popularity has surged on policies that include significantly reducing immigration, economic nationalism, and significantly boosting coal and gas production.

Pauline Hanson celebrates with Barnaby Joyce after One Nation won the Farrar by-election in NSW last month. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)

Mr Zempilas put down this increase in support to frustration with the Labor government's policies.

Later, in a Q&A session with The West Australian, Mr Zempilas said he would be willing to preference One Nation above Labor on how-to-vote cards in some electorates.

Mr Zempilas says it is his duty to stand up for what voters want. (ABC News: Keane Bourke )

"This is not about supporting or believing in what One Nation are talking about," he said.

"This is accepting that 30 per cent of the Australian population right now are indicating that their frustration is so high they are prepared to throw their support behind One Nation."

The last Liberal premier of WA, Colin Barnett, preferenced One Nation ahead of the WA Nationals at the 2017 state elect