Swanson, Fitzgibbon to nominate for Hunter | UPDATE

The Mercury understands Buchanan resident and Hunter media identity Meryl Swanson will stand for pre-selection for the seat of Paterson.

If pre-selected, Ms Swanson will join Greens candidate John Brown and incumbent Liberal Paterson MP Bob Baldwin in the contest for the seat.

EARLIER:

Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon will stand for pre-selection for the new-look seat of Hunter at the next federal election.

Mr Fitzgibbon released a statement on Tuesday morning to announce he would nominate as the Labor candidate for Hunter, which ended speculation about which seat he would contest at the next poll.

It rules out the possibility of a head-to-head election battle with Liberal Paterson MP Bob Baldwin.

"For the past twenty years I've actively, energetically and passionately represented the interests of Hunter residents," Mr Fitzgibbon said.

"I'm as enthusiastic about the Hunter's opportunities and challenges today as I was two decades ago and I'm hopeful for the chance to continue the work I love so much.

"Whatever the preselection outcome, I will no longer have the great privilege of representing the people of Maitland, Kurri Kurri, Weston, Abermain, Neath, the Upper Hunter Shire, Kandos, Rylstone, and so many communities in between.

"This is a source of great regret for me and I thank them for their support over many years."

Federal Hunter Valley seats will change significantly at the next election.

The federation seat of Hunter and the neighbouring electorate of Charlton have efectively been combined, but the new boundary has cut Cessnock in two.

Paterson will move south to incorporate Maitland, Kurri Kurri and areas around Kearsley and Aberdare, with boundaries extending to parts of Cessnock and Lovedale.

The Nationals' seat of Lynne will stretch from Port Macquarie in the north to Largs and Dungog in the south.

Mr Fitzgibbon said he had been encouraged to stand for pre-selection for Paterson, which he considered because he believed maximum Labor representation in the region was best for voters.

"I genuinely wanted, first and foremost, to do the right thing by the party," he said.

"No matter which way I jumped, I was going to give up areas.

"In the end I decided my preference was Hunter."

The next election is due to take place this year, but Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is yet to confirm when voters will head to the polling booths.