NSW Labor head picks by-election candidate

NSW's Labor leader has chosen academic Paul Scully as the party's candidate in the Wollongong by-election instead of giving rank-and-file members a say.

NSW Labor leader Luke Foley has chosen academic Paul Scully as the party's candidate in the Wollongong by-election.

Mr Scully beat several hopefuls for preselection in the former seat of retired MP Noreen Hay after Mr Foley bypassed the party's usual rank-and-file preselection process.

"I'm taking charge of Labor's preselection for Wollongong and insisting that Paul Scully be the Labor candidate," Mr Foley told the Illawarra Mercury.