The WA Government appears to be easing back on its push to privatise electricity, for fear of a scare campaign.

Premier Colin Barnett has made his first public appearance since the federal election, which was characterised by Labor’s ‘Mediscare’ campaign.

“I think that signals to me there is no doubt the Labor Party will run a scare campaign around privatisation,” he said.

“My job, if we do go down that path, I've got to get public support and at the moment I don't think that is there, but I'll be talking to people face to face over the next few months about that.”

The comments are a significant shift in the privatisation agenda, which has been the centrepiece of WA’s LNP Government debt reduction plan.

The Barnett Government’s budget is currently on track to a record $3.9 billion deficit, but hopes the sale of Western Power for an estimated $12 billion can help keep it afloat.

The Government was planning to make privatisation a central pillar of its March 2017 election campaign, to secure a mandate from voters.

But now, following the apparent success of the 'Mediscare' campaign, Mr Barnett appears to be open to scrapping the idea.

“I've always been a realist on privatisation. The Australian public is always hesitant about that, and will take some time to accept it,” he said.

“I think you really can only privatise a major government asset if you have a sense the community is accepting of it.

“I don't think the community is particularly accepting of selling Western Power but I will, at a lot of public meetings and discussions, I will try to gauge that as best I can.”

The State Opposition has pledged to run a positive campaign, but also say it has to inform the public about out the risks of privatising assets like Western Power.