NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance has confirmed he wants to be the Liberal Party candidate at the upcoming by-election in the federal seat of Eden-Monaro.
The marginal NSW South Coast seat was vacated last week when popular Labor member Mike Kelly retired due to ill health.
Mr Constance on Tuesday confirmed he would put his hand up for Liberal pre-selection which closes on Friday.
He made the announcement in Narooma which is in his state seat of Bega - which he's held since 2003 - and also Eden-Monaro.
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Mr Constance said he wanted to run for federal parliament to put "a number of issues squarely on the national agenda when it comes to recovery" from the summer's bushfires and the COVID-19 crisis.
Liberal senator Jim Molan and the Liberals' 2019 candidate Fiona Kotvojs are also believed to be considering a run at Eden-Monaro.
NSW Liberal Party president Philip Ruddock told AAP on Monday he thought the party potentially "had a Melbourne Cup field" contesting the pre-selection.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced on Monday he would not contest the seat for the Nationals.
Bega mayor Kristy McBain has been selected as Labor's candidate saying on Monday she was honoured by the endorsement.
