Goulburn Mulwaree Councillor Robin Saville and Yass Valley Labor Branch Secretary Anna Ritson expressed interest in candidcacy although never submitted a formal application.

She will take on current Liberal Member for Goulburn Pru Goward, Greens Candidate Ian Fyfe and Christian Democrat Adrian van der Byl.

A statement from Dr Stephens is below:

"At the close of nominations for pre-selection today I have been advised that as the only nominee, I have been selected as Labor’s candidate for Goulburn for the March 2015 election.

I pay tribute to Anna Ritson, from Yass, who advised me this morning that she decided not to nominate for the ballot. She will be a great Labor candidate in the future.

I invite everyone to join me in a campaign to make Goulburn a marginal electorate and help Goulburn get the attention it deserves. Politics is changing and this electorate doesn’t belong to any one party, to be fought over like a tawdry trophy.  No longer will “good enough” be the mantra for Goulburn. I will prosecute the case for Goulburn at every level and fight for every job. This major inland city deserves nothing less.

It’s time for a change. Currently we are out of sight and out of mind with this government. The Liberal Party believes they own this seat and can therefore ignore it. Eight years of poor representation is long enough.

I intend to make Goulburn relevant again. No more decisions will be made to transfer government jobs from Goulburn without a fight of monumental proportions.

I am campaigning to win this seat for Goulburn’s future.  My first action will be to establish a campaign office in Goulburn and it won’t take me seven years.  I intend to meet as many people as I can in the coming months and argue that case for change.

I’m up for a clean, robust campaign. As the new member for Goulburn, I will pay my way and not incur additional costs. I will be happy to occupy the new Goulburn office, after the election in March 2015, recently opened by Pru Goward."

Full coverage in Wednesday's Post.