FORMER West Australian Labor minister Alannah MacTiernan has nominated to become a candidate for the federal seat of Perth.
Lawyer Matthew Keogh withdrew his nomination before the midday deadline on Thursday, leaving Ms MacTiernan as the only nominee.
Another lawyer, Tim Hammond, who unsuccessfully contested the seat of Swan at the 2010 election, was touted as a strong contender but announced on Monday that he wasn't seeking to run because he had a young family.
The vacancy was created by the retirement of Defence Minister Stephen Smith, who announced last week, following the return of Kevin Rudd as Prime Minister, that he was bowing out of politics at the next election after holding the seat for 20 years.
It is one of only three federal seats held by Labor in Western Australia.
Asked about Ms MacTiernan on Thursday, WA Premier Colin Barnett said she would be a strong candidate.
"If Alannah has a go, it will be a full-on campaign, that's for sure," the Liberal leader told reporters.
"But this coming federal election is going to be closer than perhaps people thought.
"Certainly, the three federal seats that Labor holds in Western Australia, the Liberal party is going to be going after those very strongly."
The Liberal candidate for the seat of Perth is Geraldton-born petroleum engineer Darryl Moore.
During her time in state parliament, Ms MacTiernan was one of the most recognised and outspoken WA ministers, spearheading several major infrastructure projects including the Perth-to-Mandurah rail line.
She spent 17 years in state politics until she resigned in 2010 to run for the federal seat of Canning, but was beaten by Liberal Don Randall.
Ms MacTiernan returned to public life as the mayor of the City of Vincent the following year.
And she earned herself national headlines when she called for former prime minister Julia Gillard to step down after WA Labor suffered a crushing defeat in the March state election.
"I don't want to be horrible ... (but) you can't be a leader when people don't want you as their leader," she said at the time.
Mr Keogh said he had withdrawn in the interests of party unity.
"In the interests of providing a united Labor team to fight for the re-election of the Labor government, I have withdrawn my nomination for pre-selection for the seat of Perth," he said in a statement.
"I am of course disappointed to not be contesting the seat, as are many others.
"I have known and worked with Alannah for a long time and she will be a formidable candidate in Perth."
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