The Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Canning has defended his actions commanding a unit that was investigated for chopping the hands off dead Taliban fighters.

The 2013 incident in Afghanistan was carried out by troops under the command of then captain Andrew Hastie, who addressed the West Australian Liberal state conference today.

"Everyone I served with conducted themselves with honour and integrity," he said.

"Secondly, not everything goes to plan in any aspect of life, let alone in a high pressure war zone where people are trying to kill you."

Mr Hastie said he wasn't at the scene when it happened and when he found out about the incident, he did what was required - promptly reporting it up the chain of command.

"I was above and away in a helicopter, orbiting overhead.

"I can say with great confidence that those soldiers involved directly with the incident were acting in what they believed to be the appropriate process laid out by Defence.

"We were engaged in a high intensity, complex and dangerous battle.

"It is critical when you are fighting the Taliban that you gather evidence and do what you can to investigate the precise identification of your enemy."

He said the matter had been dealt with by an inquiry and all but one of the troops were cleared.

That man's case had not yet been finalised, but that should happen quickly, Mr Hastie said.

"Out of concern for the soldier involved, I am disappointed that my candidacy has brought this issue to the forefront of media attention," he said.

"My actions at the time were appropriate.

"As reporters, there are differing views as to whether what happened constituted a breach to the rules of war.

"I have now left the defence force with a clean slate.

"I've not lived my life behind a desk pushing paper. I've acted."