Dr Tonia Gray is aiming to capture the vote of the electorate who are unhappy with the major parties after announcing she will be contesting the Kiama by-election.

The Greens have selected the Professor of Education and former Shoalhaven City Councillor to be their candidate for the 13 September poll which was called by the NSW Government last week following the resignation of disgraced former independent MP Gareth Ward.

She will be up against Labor candidate Katelin McInerney, Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds and former Shoalhaven councillor Serena Copley who was announced on Friday as the Liberal Party's nominee.

Dr Gray received 11% of the primary vote at the 2023 election and she believes the Labor and Liberal parties have taken the Kiama electorate for granted.

“For too long, Kiama has been represented by members from the two major parties who have really let down the people of this wonderful area. We can do better,” Dr Gray said.

“It’s time we restored integrity and respect in Kiama.

“Kiama is a lovely area of NSW and we can have a strong voice in the NSW parliament to tackle issues like housing affordability, the continuous threats to our environment, affordable and quality early childhood places, and the need to step up for all those doing it tough across our region.

“My first priority will be talking and listening to those people who are finding housing either challenging or non-existent. It's vital that we keep pressure on the current Minns government to provide more public housing.

“Kiama Council is currently demolishing an old Council-owned nursing home at Havilah Place.

"This could be developed for affordable housing as well as hub-style accommodation for those Kiama residents who are sleeping rough.”

Dr Gray has identified health care as a leading priority.

“NSW’s health system is beyond breaking point, and we are feeling it here in Kiama with understaffing and long waitlists.

"We need the resources to provide the best health care we can, both here in Kiama and across NSW, but the major parties are refusing to invest in the staff and infrastructure needed.”

She said the Greens were instrumental in uncovering the problems plaguing the early childhood education and care sectors, which need to be addressed.

“Kiama citizens are telling me that they have lost faith in the early learning sector in our region.

"Not only are they finding it increasingly hard to secure an affordable place for their children, they are now extremely concerned about the quality of the care and education their children will receive once they do find a

place available.

"One immediate way that we can address accessibility, affordability and quality of the options is by increasing the number of government and community-run early childhood centres in our area.”

In announcing her candidacy, Dr Gray said the other key issues that she will be highlighting during the election campaign are the coming climate crisis by rapidly transitioning to renewable energy and public ownership of key energy assets, public housing, public transport and the need to "protect our precious natural environments and productive agricultural lands".