Using the Canning by-election as an opportunity to kick the prime minister is "disgraceful", says Liberal candidate Andrew Hastie.
The former SAS commander rejected commentary that the by-election would be a test of the Abbott government's performance.
"This is not a general election - the result won't change the government," he said.
"I respect the people of Canning. The fact that we have Labor and others out there trying to use local residents to treat the by-election as a chance to kick the PM or campaign for the solar industry is disgraceful.
"It shows a lack of respect for people's personal issues. It says to the people of Canning, 'We don't care if your main worry is law and order, and the scourge of ice.'"
Mr Hastie also used his address on Saturday to the West Australian Liberal state conference to take two separate swipes at the opposition, criticising its candidate Matt Keogh and saying the party has shown it will deface our national achievements with bad policy if given the opportunity.
"I care about the direction of Australia," he said.
"I want to protect the Australian way of life and the best way I can see of doing that as I build my family is to represent my local community in parliament.
"I know from experience that national building at the point of a gun can have limited effectiveness and, in Afghanistan, I did not feel that the then Labor government had our backs."
Mr Hastie said Mr Keogh, a dispute resolution lawyer and former president of the Law Society of WA, used "very carefully crafted, tricky political lawyer speak".
"You won't get that from me," he said.
In addressing questions concerning an investigation into troops he led in Afghanistan accused of cutting off the hands of Taliban fighters, he told the conference his troops had done what they believed was appropriate - suggesting the Taliban fighters' hands had been severed for identification purposes.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott later sprang to his party candidate's defence, telling reporters: "I was aware of the matter (in Afghanistan) and I was aware that there was no blemish, no stain on the conduct of this exemplary officer.
"I'm confident that it's not someone's past that matters; it's their future that matters."
Mr Abbott also dismissed the suggestion Mr Keogh, who held a news conference at his family home in the Canning electorate on Friday, was a more local candidate.
Wangaratta-born Mr Hastie moved out of defence housing in Swanbourne on Friday to move next week to Dudley Park, in the Canning district.
"He's going to be as local as anyone from Monday," Mr Abbott said.
"What more of a Perth thing to do than serve in the SAS?"
Mr Abbott said Don Randall, who held the seat for the Liberals for 15 years before his sudden death last month, would approve of Mr Hastie.
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