Liberal Party bosses are set to explain to the rank-and-file on Saturday why they're not running a candidate in a key federal by-election.
WA Liberal senator Dean Smith says it's not too late to choose a candidate for the seat of Perth, with the by-election still not officially called.
Senator Smith wrote an opinion piece for The West Australian calling on his party to run a candidate in Perth, which Labor holds by just 2.2 per cent.
"Why would the Liberal Party give Bill Shorten a free kick in WA just when voters are waking up to him and the political tide is turning against Labor?" Senator Smith wrote.
But Treasurer Scott Morrison said Perth is a long-time Labor seat.
"The Western Australian division of the Liberal Party is focusing on the state by-election and the seats that are held in Western Australia by the Labor Party have always been Labor Party seats," Mr Morrison said.
Special Minister of State Mathias Cormann is due to front a meeting of the Liberal party faithful on Saturday to explain the party's decision to focus on the Darling Range state by-election instead of Perth.
The federal by-election is one of five yet to be officially called, with Speaker Tony Smith consulting with the various parties.
Cabinet minister Christopher Pyne said Mr Smith couldn't choose a date until the Australian Electoral Commission advises him on the best time for the by-elections.
"There's no unseemly delay," Mr Pyne told reporters in Adelaide on Saturday.
The Liberals are running Georgina Downer in the South Australian seat of Mayo, where the Greens have announced Major "Moogy" Sumner will be their candidate against incumbent Rebekha Sharkie.
And former Braddon MP Brett Whiteley will run against Labor's Justine Keay, who had to resign over her dual citizenship.
But the party still has not chosen a candidate to run against Labor's Susan Lamb in Longman, with the Liberal National Party's preselectors due to meet on Tuesday.
"They will make their decision in a thoroughly grassroots, democratic way," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters in Queensland on Friday.
The coalition is not running a candidate against Labor's Josh Wilson in Fremantle.
The earliest the by-elections can be held is June 23.
