A former New South Wales National Party minister is eyeing-off a run at one of the most marginal federal seats in the country in direct competition with its Coalition partner's candidate Warren Mundine.

Key points: Ms Hodgkinson, the former NSW minister for primary industries, wants to take on the Prime Minister's pick for the seat, Warren Mundine

Ms Hodgkinson, the former NSW minister for primary industries, wants to take on the Prime Minister's pick for the seat, Warren Mundine The Nationals state director says it has yet to decide on a candidate

The Nationals state director says it has yet to decide on a candidate Ms Hodgkinson defended her political track record, including her role negotiating the Murray-Darling Basin Plan

Katrina Hodgkinson has expressed her interest in running for the Nationals in Gilmore, potentially triggering a three-way contest in the electorate on the NSW south coast.

The Nationals state director, however, has told the ABC that it has yet to decide on a candidate.

Formerly the state's minister for primary industries, Ms Hodgkinson has confirmed her interest in taking on Warren Mundine — the Liberal Party candidate for the seat who was hand-picked by Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week.

"I'm very interested in running for the Nationals in Gilmore," Ms Hodgkinson said.

Distancing herself from Mr Mundine and his jobs push, Ms Hodgkinson said roads and infrastructure would be her focus.

"Improving the Princes Highway has got to be the number one issue," she said.

"When you look at an electorate like Gilmore, roads and infrastructure are absolutely integral to making sure that the area continues to thrive safely."

Ms Hodgkinson moved to the electorate after retiring in 2017 from her previous role as the member for Cootamundra, covering part of south-west NSW.

And she defended her political track record as primary industries minister, including her role negotiating the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

"It was enormously complicated," Ms Hodgkinson said.

"It was a very complex and lengthy, protracted period, [with] people thinking that water's not rocket science. It's actually harder.

"It was a very tough negotiation period where we tried to get the maximum dollar value back to New South Wales."

It comes as NSW Minister Niall Blair plans to visit Menindee in the state's far west where there has been a third mass fish kill.

The findings of a royal commission into the Murray-Darling Basin Plan will be delivered to the South Australian Government today.

Party directors treading cautiously

Despite Ms Hodgkinson appearing on national television to discuss her plans for the Gilmore electorate, the National Party is yet to decide on a candidate for the seat.

Loading

The party's state director Ross Cadell took to Twitter yesterday to water down speculation following reports of her selection.

"I was told once that I would definitely get a new bike if I swam the length of the pool underwater. Did it, still no new bike," Mr Cadell tweeted.

"Sometimes things we are told don't come true, sometimes they do."

Mr Cadell also confirmed to the ABC that the party is going through its process and is unlikely to clarify its position for at least a week.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten said it highlights an ongoing rift within the Coalition.

"You've got Nationals running against Liberals, you've got ex-Liberals running against Liberals in safe seats," Mr Shorten said.

"This Government's a mess, and every day we just see more chaos, more confusion and more instability."

Support for female representation

Meanwhile, former NSW Labor MP Marianne Saliba has backed Ms Hodgkinson's push for the seat.

"I think it's great," Ms Saliba said.

Sorry, this audio has expired Mixed reaction to Warren Mundine's first outing as Gilmore candidate

"The National Party haven't been seen traditionally as supporters of women running for this seat, so I think it's wonderful to see that they're considering a woman.

"And in fact, they shouldn't consider it, they should just get on with it and do it."

That view has been echoed by Mary-Lou Jarvis, the president of the NSW Liberal Women's Council.

"Katrina was a very effective member in the NSW Government and she, like a lot of conservative women, has a lot to offer," Ms Jarvis said.

"Ann Sudmalis, and before her Jo Gash, were the members for Gilmore and ideally we would like to see a woman take that position."

Gilmore is currently held by the Liberal Party with a margin of 0.7 per cent, and is also being contested by the ALP's Fiona Phillips, Independent Grant Schultz and Carmel McCallum from the Greens.