Labor will allocate more resources to the usually safe western Sydney seats of Blaxland and Watson at the federal election in response to community discontent over the Middle East war and the emergence of Muslim community independents.

But while the red-ribbon seats – each held by Labor since they were formed decades ago – will attract more attention than in prior elections, the party is more concerned with how the conflict is playing out in inner-city suburbs, where it is being weaponised by the Greens.