Battleground seats: WA Liberals target Mandurah and Murray-Wellington with 2021 state election in mind

Long-term Mandurah MP David Templeman has been in the role for 18 years after winning the seat in 2001.

The Labor Minister defeated Liberal candidate Lynne Rowlands at the 2017 state election, claiming 68 per cent of the votes on a two-candidate preferred basis.

In Murray-Wellington, Labor's Robyn Clarke claimed the seat in 2017 ahead of previous incumbent Liberal politician Murray Cowper.

Ms Clarke won 36.06 per cent of the primary votes and 51.39 per cent on a two-candidate preferred basis.

In Dawesville, Zak Kirkup defeated Labor candidate Adam Woodage, claiming 50.69 per cent of the votes on a two-candidate preferred basis.

The success of Mr Templeman and Ms Clarke played its part in Labor's landslide victory, with Mark McGowan becoming Premier in 2017 after eight-and-a-half years of Liberal rule.

With the Liberals having Liza Harvey as their new leader, it appears the Peel seats are in the opposition's gaze.

WA Liberal state director Sam Calabrese said Mandurah and Murray-Wellington would be key seats in the upcoming election and the party were currently looking for candidates.

"Over the past few years, Zak Kirkup and (Canning MP) Andrew Hastie have been able to successfully fight for their communities, securing vital funding for the Peel Health Campus, Pinjarra Heavy Haulage Deviation and Lakelands Train Station," he said.

"We know the community need strong local Liberal advocates like Zak Kirkup and Andrew Hastie to stand up for them and the region.

"That's why we are prioritising our pre-selection process in the key battleground seats of Mandurah and Murray-Wellington."

In the Upper House, Mandurah falls into the South West region, with six seats available.

The current split is two Labor MPS (Adele Farina and Sally Talbot), one Liberal (Steve Thomas), one Green (Diane Evers), one Nationals (Colin Holt) and Colin Tincknell from One Nation.