With an electoral redistribution making Macquarie an ultra-marginal seat at the next election, Mr Abbott visited the Springwood and Hazelbrook shopping centres only three weeks into his leadership.

He was joined by the Liberal Party’s candidate for Macquarie, sitting Greenway MP Louise Markus, who will seek to reclaim the seat for the conservatives after it was won by Bob Debus at the last election.

The Labor Party has been caught up in an internal struggle since Mr Debus announced he would retire from politics, with the Left battling between Blue Mountains mayor Adam Searle and media trainer Susan Templeman over who will become the party’s candidate.

The ALP’s national executive was expected to endorse Clr Searle for the seat in December but failed to make a decision, leaving the candidacy in limbo.

Some local party members have called for a rank and file ballot for the preselection, rather than have head office make the decision.

The sight of the Liberal leader campaigning in the Blue Mountains with a candidate was difficult to take for some local figures.

“It is frustrating to see the opposition leader campaigning in Macquarie and we have no candidate,” said Ward 4 Clr Mark Greenhill.

“This matter needs to be resolved as quickly as possible so that local party units can start the fight to hold Macquarie,” he said.