Federal Labor is putting a positive spin on its electoral hopes in Western Australia despite four out of six of its sitting members there deciding to retire.
All three lower house Labor MPs from WA are retiring at the next election and Senator Joe Bullock on Tuesday night announced he would also be standing down.
That leaves two senators, Sue Lines and Glenn Sterle, as Labor's only WA federal representatives.
There are concerns within the party branch that factionalism and deals between Labor-affiliated unions are undermining the quality of candidates.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten made an offhand reference to these concerns when he named indigenous leader Pat Dodson as the party's nominee to replace Senator Bullock.
"We should put aside the rough and tumble of the party system and give someone of Pat Dodson's remarkable qualities the opportunity to serve as a senator," Mr Shorten said on Wednesday.
Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said there was a "changing of the guard" occurring in WA.
"We've got an opportunity and a responsibility to select the next generation of Labor in WA," she told reporters in Canberra.
"You don't win government if you don't compete in Western Australia."
Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek said travel from WA to the east coast took it out on members.
"You'd hardly call a handful of resignations an exodus," she said.
"I think it's a very difficult life to be a member of federal Parliament from WA ... it does take a higher toll."
With the current batch of federal MPs averaging close to 60 years of age, the party has sought a younger cohort of candidates for the election due around September.
The party is hopeful of retaining its seats of Brand, Fremantle and Perth with new candidates, and possibly picking up Swan, Cowan and the new seat of Burt.
Those seeking renewal will be closely watching the Labor preselection in Fremantle, where the city's deputy mayor and political staffer Josh Wilson is taking on Maritime Union organiser Chris Brown.
The ballot will be held on March 12-13 with the state executive meeting on March 14.
