Goulburn Labor secretary Jason Shepherd said the preselection process for a candidate would be finished by the end of March and that they were in election mode.

There was “great interest” in Labor circles in preselection, with the field narrowing to a possible three candidates, Mr Shepherd said.

“We had initial interest from many Goulburn and Yass Labor members,” he said. “The field has tightened to three excellent candidates … with huge community connections and fantastic local track records.”

Rank and file members from all local branches in the electorate will vote. Mr Shepherd would not comment on whether one of those candidates was former State Labor candidate and Senator, Ursula Stephens.

Mr Shepherd said it was time sitting member Pru Goward had a run for her money. “Goulburn understands that our “NSW” (Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong) Liberal member has to go,” he said. “It's time up.

“At the very least, Goulburn Labor will make the seat extremely marginal, meaning better services and more money for Goulburn.

“We are busy talking with the community, marking dates and preparing for battle.

“If the Liberals want to keep Goulburn, they had better have their cheque books out as we are going to push them hard.”

Dr Stephens said Labor’s annual state conference would be late June and most policy to take to the election would be finalised then.

“Local Labor activists met [recently] and there was an air of optimism in the room about winning enough seats to win government,” she said.

“There has been so much wasteful spending in Sydney, it’s shameful. [John] Barilaro’s millions haven’t touched the electorate. At the end of the day, it will be up to our branch members.”