Federal Attorney-General and West Australian senator Michaelia Cash has stepped up the Liberal Party’s campaign in the blue-ribbon seat of Curtin, asking backers for donations to assist the fight against high-profile independent Kate Chaney.

In an email sent last week with the subject “Favour pls for a Special Project”, seen by The Australian Financial Review, Senator Cash warned that a “vote for an ‘independent’ is a vote for higher taxing, bigger spending Albanese Labor government”.