Albanese anoints Bega mayor Kristy McBain in looming byelection clash

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has endorsed Bega mayor Kristy McBain as his preferred candidate in the looming byelection in Eden-Monaro, framing the contest as a test of the federal government's response to last summer's bushfires.

Moving ahead of a formal decision to choose a candidate, Mr Albanese stood alongside Ms McBain on Friday morning to name her as the "best candidate" for Labor and the electorate on the NSW south coast.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has endorsed Bega mayor Kristy McBain as his preferred candidate for the Eden-Monaro byelection.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

With NSW Deputy Premier and Nationals leader John Barilaro preparing to run on the strength of his strong support in the overlapping state seat of Monaro, Labor signalled it would fight on local issues rather than national policies.

Labor will call for nominations from its members to replace former MP Mike Kelly, who announced his resignation on Thursday, but Mr Albanese's move makes it near-certain Ms McBain will be the party's official candidate by Monday afternoon.

While Eden-Monaro includes Ms McBain's area of Bega and the NSW south coast, it also includes Mr Barilo's political stronghold of Queanbeyan, as well as ranging from regional towns like Yass to Eden and Adelong.

Ms McBain did not name Mr Barilaro and skirted a direct question about his absence from the electorate during the early phase of the bushfires, when he was on holiday in Europe.

"Over the last six months it's become a wonderfully clear to me and I am more resolute now than ever that leadership needs to happen and it needs to happen at a local level," she said.

"With the resignation of Mike Kelly, now is the time that Eden-Monaro presses a reset button.

"I think people want a change in politics. They want people to represent them at a local level and they want people they know, people they trust people they see every day. I want to be that voice
of the people of Eden-Monaro because I don't want my community to be left behind."

Mr Barilaro said on Friday morning he would take this weekend to consider whether he stood for the seat.

"Early next week I will convene and I will see what I decide. I am proud of what I achieved in New South Wales and I think there is more for me to do more here," he said.

"If there is an opportunity on the federal political landscape I will give that a bit of consideration."

The Liberal Party has set a deadline of May 8 for candidates to nominate and is likely to hold a local plebiscite to decide between contenders, who are said to include NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance, NSW Liberal Senator Jim Molan and former Liberal candidate Fiona Kotvojs.