NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant has joined the list of people endorsing a campaign for the regional city of Dubbo to be the next host of the Logie Awards, after the Victorian government's contract lapses in 2017.
Mr Grant, who is MP for Dubbo, recently penned his endorsement through a letter to the event organiser TV Week.
This comes following the popular social media hashtag #BringTheLogiesToDubbo and a campaign by radio station Dubbo 93.5 Star FM.
SBS personality and 2016 Gold Logie nominee Lee Lin Chin has also endorsed the campaign.
Mr Troy said the central NSW city of around 41,000 has the capacity to host Australian television's biggest night.
"It surprisingly got a lot more support than we thought it would," Mr Troy told SBS.
"It was a bit of a joke initially, we had several people sign up early like Andrew O'Keefe, Karl Stefanovic and Melissa Doyle.
"We have some options and capacity within a massive auditorium at the Dubbo RSL Club.
"We have a 500-seat regional theatre which is world class.
A file image of vistors watching giraffes at Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Getty) Source: Getty Images
"We could do something purpose-built within the Western Plains Taronga Zoo, where we've had big functions on previous occasions."
Mr Troy said the Logies "would never be the same again" if Dubbo is able to secure hosting rights.
"If they were prepared to give the regions a go, the local community would step up to the mark," he said.
"The celebrities would come to Dubbo and get an experience they would never imagine. We fly direct from Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne, to Dubbo."
He said he looks forward to speaking to TV Week about the "serious bid".
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