THE Liberal Party will not run a candidate in up-coming by-elections in the federal seats of Perth and Fremantle, sparking outrage from party members.

WA Liberal Senator Dean Smith, who ran the party’s campaign in Perth in 2016, yesterday described the party’s decision not to run a candidate in Perth as “nonsense”.

“The 35,000 Perth electors who gave us their primary vote at the 2016 election deserve the opportunity to vote for a Liberal candidate,” Senator Smith said.

Camera Icon Tim Hammond resigned earlier this month. Credit: Daniel Wilkins

“It is a nonsense that Liberals would give Bill Shorten a free kick, just as voters were waking up to his high taxing and job destroying policies.”

In Perth, 35,000 people voted for the Liberals at the 2016 federal election – then candidate Jeremy Quinn achieving a record 42 per cent of the primary vote for the Liberals.

And in Fremantle, 31,000 people voted for the Liberals in Fremantle.

The by-election in Perth has come about because of the resignation of Labor MHR Tim Hammond, due to family reasons.

Fremantle MHR Josh Wilson is one of five federal Labor sitting members who has been forced to resign, and re-contest his seat, as part of the citizenship fiasco which has crippled the federal parliament.

Liberal State Executive yesterday decided not to contest the two seats, giving Mr Wilson in Fremantle and in particular Labor’s candidate in Perth Patrick Gorman virtually a guaranteed win.

In an email to party members yesterday, Liberal state director Sam Calabrese said the party would focus on contesting the state seat of Darling Range, previously held by disgraced Labor MP Barry Urban.

“We will not be distracted by Bill Shorten’s duplicity and dishonesty that has resulted in a number of by-elections being required across the country around 12 months from the next federal election, by contesting the Fremantle and Perth by-election,” he said.

“We will remain focussed on our most important task, representing every West Australian who has been let down by Mark McGowan and Labor, by standing side by side with them in Darling Range.”

Former Liberal Member for Mt Lawley, Michael Sutherland, also said yesterday the Liberals should have run a candidate in Perth.

“Everyone here (Mt Lawley) is expecting the Liberal Party to stand in Perth – everyone I speak to,” Mr Sutherland said.

“It is a shame that Jeremy Quinn doesn’t get the opportunity to stand again because he did so well last time.

“He got a bigger primary vote than Labor.”

WA Liberal leader Mike Nahan yesterday distanced himself from a decision not to run candidates in Perth and Fremantle.

“The decision not to run candidates in the Federal seats of Perth and Fremantle is not something I have any input into,” he said.

“I will be concentrating on supporting whoever is chosen as the Liberal candidate for the seat of the Darling Range to win the seat and give the electors a member who will give them the representation in Parliament they deserve.”

Labor state secretary Matt Dixon said yesterday the party was “surprised” by the Liberal’s decision.

"Labor is surprised about the WA Liberal Party's announcement not to contest the Perth and Fremantle by-elections,” he said.

“I think that has shown great disrespect to their voters and we were looking forward to the contest on who was better to deliver a Fair Go for WA."

No date has yet be named for the by-elections.