A local businesswoman will vie for the chance to sit in NSW Parliament as the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate in a crucial by-election.
Sue Gilroy, the president of the Singleton Business Chamber, was announced on Monday as the party's candidate for the May 22 Upper Hunter race.
"Our community needs leaders not pretenders. Unfortunately, we've been a safe seat for too long and that means we've been taken for granted," Ms Gilroy said in a statement.
"I'm a businesswomen, a registered nurse, I've worked in mining and I grew up on a farm. I've never lived in a city in my life. I dare say few people would be able to say that in NSW Parliament."
The by-election was sparked by Nationals MP Michael Johnsen's resignation on March 31 after he was accused of raping a woman in 2019, which he denies.
The May 22 poll is expected to be tight despite the Nationals and its predecessor party holding the electorate for nearly a century.
The seat was whittled away to a 2.6 per cent margin in 2019, when Mr Johnsen scooped up 34 per cent of first preferences.
Labor trailed on 28.6 per cent and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate on 22 per cent.
One Nation will also contest the by-election.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian will head to the Upper Hunter this week to campaign alongside the Nationals candidate, David Layzell.
SFF Party leader Robert Borsak announced Ms Gilroy's candidacy on Monday.
Labor is expected to announce its candidate on Tuesday.
