Crows Nest-based company director Susan Templeman has confirmed she will seek ALP preselection for Macquarie.

“I think, like all branch members, I’d be hoping and calling for a rank and file preselection to determine who represents Labor for Macquarie,” Ms Templeman told the Gazette on Monday.

But some local party figures fear she will be installed in the seat without a local vote as a way of blocking Adam Searle from gaining the candidacy.

The Gazette understands Ms Templeman is the preferred candidate of Bob Debus.

“Debus is putting ego ahead of the Labor Party,” said one senior party source.

“Louise Markus (the likely Liberal candidate and current Federal Member for Greenway) has reason to smile for the first time since the redistribution of her old seat if this goes ahead.”

The source said a high profile candidate was needed to beat Markus now that Macquarie was a marginal seat, “not a professional spin doctor that no-one has ever heard of”.

Adam Searle played up his experience when he confirmed to the Gazette on Monday he would be a candidate for Macquarie.

“I have a strong record of public service in the local community and believe that I am the person best placed to win the seat for Labor at the next Federal election,” he said.

“Louise Markus will be a formidable opponent, and to give the ALP the best chance of winning the seat Labor needs a candidate who is well-known in the local community and who has a track record in representing the interests of the community.”

Responding to concerns about her low profile, Ms Templeman said “having a high profile doesn’t necessarily mean (you are) the best candidate”.

“But really right now that’s for locals to decide and I really respect the process that the ALP goes through,” she said.