Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips 'confident' ahead of race for Gilmore seat

"I am absolutely confident I've been doing everything possible in terms of supporting people and helping constituents right across the electorate," Ms Phillips told the South Coast Register.

"Elections are a tough race but I'll just keep concentrating on what I do and that is helping people."

Bega MP and former NSW transport minister Andrew Constance announced his Liberal Party preselection for the seat on Monday.

Labor's Fiona Phillips won the seat from the Liberals in the 2019 federal election, defeating Warren Mundine with a 2.6 per cent margin.

Ms Phillips said the past couple of years have been a "horrific time" for residents in the Shoalhaven and South Coast-based electorate, and blasted the Morrison Government for failed disaster management plans.

"There's a lot of people that need help in the community at the moment," she said. "We've obviously seen the worst times ever, from the drought, the bushfires, declared floods and the pandemic."

"Fire mitigation is a big area the Morrison Government has completely failed...and people are telling me they want to feel safer.

"That means better telecommunications, and better and more secure power sources during an emergency.

"And also better communications for our emergency services, volunteers and workers.

"We've got a really good policy around more funding for disaster mitigation, and we're really strong on a national aerial firefighting fleet.

"And that's what sets us aside from a Liberal government."

Last week, Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese announced a Labor government will revamp the $4.7 billion emergency response fund to commit up to $200 million a year to disaster prevention and resilience.

Mr Constance also previously blasted Prime Minister Scott Morrison's bushfire management when he visited Bega in January 2020, and said he would be willing to stand up to him again.

"I will be fiercely independent when it comes to my community. I don't care who it is," he said.

A strong advocate for the local doctor shortage, Ms Phillips campaign is also focused on expanding local health services.

"Access to local GPS and local services is paramount and is still an issue in this area," she said.

"We've had a win with distribution priority areas that I'm quite proud of, but there's more to do.

"We've had a lot of tragic deaths by suicide in Kiama, I want to get more services there, including a Headspace.

"I was lucky through lobbying and campaigning to get the full Headspace to Batemans Bay that also services Moruya and Ulladulla."

Ms Phillips recently launched a petition to bring a Nowra Bypass to the area and said she will continue fighting for local infrastructure.

"There's loads of infrastructure we need across the electorate," she said.

"I've been fighting every single day in parliament to get funds brought forward as I have for the Jervis Bay Road intersection on the Princes Highway, the Milton Ulladulla Bypass and leading the charge on a campaign for the Nowra Bypass."

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