The heavy hitters were out in force as NSW Premier Chris Minns and Opposition Leader Mark Speakman visited the Kiama electorate during the week to announce their candidates for the 13 September by-election.

Minns dropped by Kiama on Thursday to throw his support behind Katelin McInerney while Speakman travelled to North Nowra on Friday where Serena Copley launched her campaign for the vacant seat.

Community Independent Kate Dezarnaulds has also announced she will be contesting the by-election with the Greens also expected to also offer up a candidate.

The deadline for nominations is Thursday, 28 August with early voting to open on 6 September.

The NSW Government announced the by-election earlier this week following last Friday’s resignation of former independent MP Gareth Ward, who is in jail in Cessnock awaiting sentencing after his conviction on four sexual assault offences.

Ward begrudgingly resigned less than an hour before NSW Parliament was due to expel him for “unworthy conduct”, which had not been done to a sitting MP since 1917.

Minns and Speakman each claimed underdog status for their candidate at the upcoming poll.

More than 20,000 people in the 2023 election voted for Ward as he held on for a narrow win over McInerney after a swing of more than 11% against him.

“We're excited about this by-election but if I'm going to be honest with you, I think we're both a bit nervous about it, too,” Minns said.

Mark Speakman with Serena Copley in North Nowra. Photo: The Bugle

“But we're also determined to fight for every single vote in the next few weeks.

“We know that there's a big challenge ahead for NSW Labor.

“We take absolutely nothing for granted. And we want to engage with the local community person by person, voter by voter, to understand what this community needs, what the opportunities are for one of the most beautiful places in Australia, if not the world, and what the challenges are that the NSW government, need to work around the clock on behalf of the local community for.

“We will be saying to the local community that you've got a candidate in Katelin and a potential member of parliament, although you'll make that decision, who'll be a strong voice in my government.

“Someone that won't be ignored. Someone who's a fantastically articulate and passionate advocate for her community.”

Minns effectively ignored Ward in Parliament over the past two years - his questions were taken on notice and the Government moved swiftly to turf him out of Parliament once the guilty verdict was handed down late last month.

When asked where the former Ward supporters would vote this time around, Minns replied: “I really don't know.

“It's really up to them (the voters) to make a decision about who they think is best placed to represent Kiama over the next 18 months and then beyond that for the next general election.”

McInerney, like the Premier, did not mention Ward by name in the 30-minute media conference to announce her candidacy.

“The people of Kiama have had uncertainty for the better part of five years and I believe that what people are telling me they want is a strong voice in Parliament,” she said.

“They want strong representation on the floor at Macquarie Street and they want that person to be someone who can really deliver on the things that they need and what we need in our region.”

Speakman said Labor had turned its back on the people of Kiama by not investing in the infrastructure and services this area needed.

“Under the Liberals, we saw a record amount of investment in infrastructure here in the Kiama electorate,” he said.

“But Labor are doing absolutely nothing. In two and a half years, Labor has turned its back on the people of Kiama.

“People in Kiama, like elsewhere in NSW, are doing it tough. The cost of living has escalated. Housing is more unaffordable than ever. But what has this government done? Slashed cost of living support, cut back on services, and abandoned any development of infrastructure in this electorate.”

Minns said he had spoken to the three respective mayors in the electorate about working more effectively with councils to deliver better infrastructure for the area.

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald issued a statement after he had chatted with Minns on the phone as he drove south to say “it was great to have the chance to share with Mr Minns our draft Advocacy List and discuss our community’s needs”.

“In recent years Kiama has not had the level of funding that we’ve seen some of our neighbouring areas receive.

“In Kiama, we’re desperate for upgraded facilities on a number of fronts.”

The Advocacy List includes requests for up to $150 million funding for an upgraded Kiama Sports Complex, lifting the restrictive covenant preventing Council developing one of its significant landholdings near Spring Creek and calls for new child care and educational facilities in the LGA.

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