LABOR strategists have issued a "keep out" of WA edict for Julia Gillard in the lead-up to the March 9 state election.

The Sunday Times can reveal the edict was issued to federal MPs in December urging the Prime Minister and others to "stay as far away as possible" from Perth.

And, Ms Gillard has agreed to the request, declining to set foot in WA on the orders of campaign chiefs since late 2012.

The WA Labor leader Mark McGowan, who opposes the carbon tax, famously went on holidays when Ms Gillard visited Perth avoiding the threat of being photographed with her.

Warning federal politics was "poison", the ALP said the only chance it had of winning was if Ms Gillard, who is battling renewed leadership speculation, stayed away.

"We rang everyone in December and said, 'Please, don't come'," a Labor strategist said. "We've made it very clear and to be fair everyone has been fabulous about not coming because there are still some grown-ups."





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Defence Minister Stephen Smith had been "fantastic" in enforcing the ban, according to ALP sources. A former WA state secretary, Mr Smith had ensured his colleagues did not cross the border unless it was absolutely unavoidable.

Even Labor frontbencher Bill Shorten, who will fly into Perth on Tuesday for a Maritime Union of Australia conference, confirmed he would not be campaigning during his visit.

Mr Shorten's "fly-in, fly-out" visit has prompted much mirth among Labor MPs who suggested he must have received special air clearance to visit.

He is one of only three federal MPs, including Finance Minister Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese, who have visited during the campaign.

Strategists said all three had events they simply couldn't get out of in Mr Albanese's case a road launch and in Senator Wong's case a business breakfast, but all had agreed to stealth visits with little contact with the state campaign.

"Why? Federal politics is poison," a Labor source said. "Soft voters are turned off by federal politics. Every time you go doorknocking and you mention federal politics people just go, 'Arrrgggh!'.

"They start off bagging Julia, but they end up bagging Tony Abbott. It's just a spiral of anger."

Contacted by The Sunday Times the Prime Minister's office confirmed Ms Gillard would not be campaigning in Perth during the state election.

"The Prime Minister made regular visits to Perth in 2012 and expects to visit WA frequently in 2013 in the lead-up to the federal election," a spokeswoman said.

"It is expected that the WA campaign will be fought on state issues."