Labors Kristina Keneally confirms nomination for safe lower house seat at next federal election
The high-profile former NSW Premier and deputy Labor leader currently serves as Shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship.
"I have always made the choice to step up and fight," Senator Keneally said in a statement. "That’s why I’m making the choice now to seek preselection in Fowler."
Labor holds the seat with a 14 per cent margin.
Mr Hayes had previously backed local lawyer Tu Le - who has Vietnamese heritage - to replace him in representing the multicultural electorate.
Her work in the community includes representing exploited migrant workers and as a youth leader at the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association.
Mr Hayes has said her candidacy would help federal Labor reflect the diversity of the seat.
SBS News has contacted Ms Le for comment.
Senator Keneally now lives on Sydney's northern beaches but held the state seat of Heffron in Sydney's inner-city suburbs during nine years in state parliament.
She said she had spoken with branch members in Fowler and others in the local community around gaining support for her preselection.
"Serving this community, living in this community, and fighting for them is what I want to do," she said.
Labor Leader Anthony Albanese has appeared to distance himself from the upcoming preselection battle.
"We will have a very strong candidate for Fowler and Kristina Keneally is an important part of my team," he told reporters on Friday.
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Senator Keneally quit state politics a year after Labor lost the 2011 NSW election.
She had first attempted to enter federal politics through a by-election against Liberal MP John Alexander in Bennelong in 2017.
Senator Keneally was appointed to the Senate the following year, after the resignation of Sam Dastyari.
Despite Senator Keneally's prominent position in Labor's frontbench line up, her future was uncertain with colleague Deborah O'Neill receiving strong support to top the party's ticket at the next election.
Senator O'Neill - who is also from the right faction - is expected to lead the Senate ticket ahead of the left's Jenny McAllister.
Senator Keneally, who is also from Labor right, would have been relegated to third spot, which was seen as close to unwinnable.
Labor has not won three seats in NSW at a regular half-Senate election since Kevin Rudd swept to power in 2007.
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