The prime minister says he plans to make another trip to the West Australian electorate of Canning ahead of a tight by-election, but opposition leader Bill Shorten may beat him.
Tony Abbott was in Perth on Saturday for the WA Liberal annual state conference, where he lauded candidate Andrew Hastie, a former SAS captain who ended his speech to the party faithful explaining the circumstances behind a controversy involving troops he commanded in Afghanistan.
Mr Abbott also took a brief trip to Dawesville in the Canning electorate, again flanked by Mr Hastie.
In the Torres Strait on Wednesday, Mr Abbott told reporters that he planned to return to Perth before the September 19 by-election.
"Life is pretty busy and you never know what's going to come up but certainly it is my intention to be there to support an outstanding candidate," he said.
But Mr Shorten said he'd heard reliable reports "that the Liberals have built an Abbott-proof fence around Canning".
"They don't want the prime minister around this Canning by-election," he said.
Mr Shorten was in Perth on Friday alongside Labor candidate and dispute resolution lawyer Matt Keogh, and is scheduled to speak at the WA Labor state conference on Saturday morning.
Canning voters can also expect to see deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop and Social Services Minister Scott Morrison on the hustings this week.
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