Federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has dared the prime minister to go west and face the music over the mining tax, as he officially launched the Liberal state election campaign in Perth.

Citing WA Premier Colin Barnett as a personal role model for his potential prime ministership, Mr Abbott ridiculed the state and federal Labor parties for their dysfunctional relationship.

"I do challenge the prime minister - come west, prime minister, come west. Don't be shy of coming to Western Australia," he said.

"Justify the carbon tax. Justify the mining tax. Because the first person it seems you have to persuade is your very own state leader."

State Labor leader Mark McGowan has previously said he does not expect the prime minister to come to WA for the campaign.

Leading an enthusiastic Liberal crowd, Mr Abbott also laid the groundwork for his federal election campaign in the west, saying the country owed the state of WA a debt of gratitude for its contribution to the national's economy.

"In an important sense, West Australians are the best Australians," Mr Abbott said.

Mr Barnett announced a $57 million investment for school nurses and $15 million dollars for the city's Scitech education facility.

Pic: Tony Abbott. Picture: Simon Santi/The West Australian.