A Tasmanian Greens MP who formerly held state ministries including climate change, Aboriginal affairs and education, will vie for the federal Upper House spot to be left by retiring senator Christine Milne.
Nick McKim, 49, on Monday announced he will stand for preselection as a senator.
"Out of respect for other candidates, and Greens members who will be voting in the ballot, I will not be making further public comment on the issue," he said in a two-line statement.
After Wednesday's resignation by Senator Milne, and her subsequent announcement that she will vacate her Upper House position before her term expires in June 2017, the Tasmanian Greens called for candidates on Friday.
Nominees for the 2016 federal election will be subject to the party's new endorsement process, which is a ballot of all Tasmanian Greens members.
So far only Mr McKim and Launceston lawyer Vanessa Bleyer have publicly announced their intention to stand for pre-selection, but the party's state convenor Austra Maddox said there has been lots of interest.
"I would expect that we will have a field of several," she told AAP on Monday.
Candidates for pre-selection are not permitted to campaign through mainstream or social media.
"This is to ensure that all potential candidates are treated as equally and fairly as possible," Ms Maddox said.
Mr McKim has had a public profile in Tasmania after winning a seat in the state's House of Assembly in 2002 and becoming leader of the Tasmanian Greens in 2008.
The party joined Labor in 2010 to form a minority government and Mr McKim served as minister for numerous portfolios.
He maintains his seat but was stripped of ministerial duties in January 2014 after a falling out with Labor, before the state March election brought a Liberal landslide victory.
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