Govt defends Libs not standing in WA polls

Treasurer Scott Morrison has defended his party's decision to not enter candidates in two Western Australian seats that are up for grabs in federal by-elections.

Perth Labor MP Tim Hammond resigned for family reasons, while Fremantle MP Josh Wilson is one of four MPs who were forced to resign over the dual citizenship saga.

"The West Australian division has made a judgement that they are going to focus on a state by-election there at the moment. We know that those two seats ... have been long-held Labor seats ... back to 1911," Mr Morrison told ABC television.