Andrew Constance confirms he WILL run for parliament at the Eden-Monaro by-election
- Andrew Constance wants to be the Liberal Party candidate in the by-election
- Constance put his hand up as he hopes to'put issues on the national agenda'
- Issues of important to Constance are around the bushfire crisis from December
- NSW South Coast seat was vacated last week Labor member Mike Kelly retired
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.
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NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance (pictured) has confirmed he wants to be the Liberal Party candidate at the upcoming by-election in the federal seat of Eden-Monaro
Mr Constance (pictured with his wife Jennifer) said 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.
Mr Constance will stand down from his NSW ministerial position at the close of nominations later this week after spending 17 years as the Bega MP in the NSW Parliament.
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.
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'It is fair to say our community has been put through catastrophe after catastrophe and it is time we look very hard and long at how we’re going to get through the challenges that beset us, from fire, to COVID, and of course the economic impact we are seeing across our region and of course, our country,' he said during a press conference on Tuesday.
Fire burned to the edge of Mr Constance's home (pictured) on New Year's Eve, with more than 400 homes destroyed by fire in his electorate
'People just want someone who can give it a go and I think I can bring something special given that state wide experience.
The bushfires are an important issue to Mr Constance, who went missing while defending his family home in Malua Bay from a fire on New Years' Eve.
Bega MP Andrew Constance on the front line of Australia's bushfire crisis, fighting a blaze near his home in Malua Bay in December
More than 400 homes were destroyed by fires in Mr Constance's electorate, leaving the regional economy in tatters.
While speaking to Alan Jones on 2GB in March, Mr Constance said the political response to the bushfires and the disconnect between the community effected by the tragedy made him realise how ineffective the political system is in Australia.
He said he would resign from politics after completing the bushfire recovery effort.
'I've got to be honest with you, it took a bloody big fire to make me realise how wrong politics is in this country,' he said.
Mr Constance said he will work to make sure no victims of the bushfires are forgotten and help to lift those effected off their knees.
NSW Liberal Party president Philip Ruddock said he thought the party potentially 'had a Melbourne Cup field' contesting the pre-selection.
Liberal senator Jim Molan and the Liberals' 2019 candidate Fiona Kotvojs are also believed to be considering a run at Eden-Monaro.
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.
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