Alannah MacTiernan has hit back at the West Australian Government's Upper House whip Phil Edman after he said she was a "dinosaur" whose return to state politics posed no threat to the Liberals.

Key points: Labor should be choosing younger candidates, Phil Edman says

Labor should be choosing younger candidates, Phil Edman says Alannah MacTiernan rejects "pathetic insult games"

Alannah MacTiernan rejects "pathetic insult games" Mark McGowan's so-called "captain's pick" causes Labor unrest

Ms MacTiernan, 63, was backed by Opposition Leader Mark McGowan yesterday to fill the Upper House spot made vacant by the sudden resignation of Labor MP Ken Travers.

The former state minister and federal Member for Perth is now expected to be preselected for Labor's North Metropolitan ticket for the March election.

Mr Edman said it was a shame the Labor Party was not bringing in a young, energetic candidate with fresh ideas.

"It's incredible that Mark McGowan wants to bring back a dinosaur, I mean it's quite incredible," he said.

"What's his next step? He's probably going to bring back Kim Beazley.

"If that happens I think I might leave [Parliament] myself."

Mr Edman likened Ms MacTiernan, who retired from federal politics earlier this year, to current WA Liberal president and former Government minister Norman Moore.

"If they do bring back Alannah MacTiernan maybe the Liberal Party should bring back Norman Moore, and we will sit them both in the Upper House and we'll put a blanket on their laps so they are nice and warm."

Mr Edmon later tweeted Ms MacTiernan, asking her: "So how long you going to stick around in this job before you quit again?"

MacTiernan says she does not know who Edman is

Ms MacTiernan took aim at Mr Edman while out campaigning with Mr McGowan.

She said she had never heard of Mr Edman and thought his comments were puerile and brought the political class into disrepute.

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"I honestly think the public is so over this crap," she said.

"I honestly believe that they want politicians that are going to be focusing on them and the issues and not playing cheap, pathetic insult games.

"Dinosaurs are big and powerful ... and what was this gentleman's name? Mr Edman?

"I'm very happy anytime to debate him on policy and I put the challenge out there Mr Edman, come up there and let's have a debate about who's got the plan for the 21st century Western Australia."

Mr Edman's comments came after Corrective Services Minister Joe Francis said bringing Ms MacTiernan back would "be like Lazarus with a quadruple bypass".

Liberals 'terrified' of MacTiernan: McGowan

Mr McGowan said Ms MacTiernan had the energy and enthusiasm of a 21-year-old, and pointed out that Premier Colin Barnett was older than Ms MacTiernan.

Mark McGowan has endorsed Alannah MacTiernan for the Upper House. ( ABC News: Andrew O'Connor )

He said it was clear Liberal MPs and ministers were actively attacking her because they were "terrified" of her return to WA politics.

"I think Alannah would eat those Liberal people for breakfast with her policy capacity, her knowledge, her ability, her enthusiasm ... she would eat them for breakfast and spit them out."

Mr McGowan is likely to come under fire from within ALP ranks over his so-called "captain's pick", with some factional heavyweights understood to be upset with him asserting his power over the preselection process.

Some shadow cabinet ministers have also expressed anger at the move, because it is widely believed one of them will have to give up their position to eventually allow for a return to the frontbench for Ms MacTiernan.

In the short term ahead of the next election, the vacancy created by Mr Travers' retirement is expected to be filled by City of Vincent councillor Laine McDonald, who was in the next spot on the party's North Metropolitan ticket in 2013.