The Illawarra Greens have preselected high profile environmentalist Cath Blakey to contest the Wollongong byelection in a democratic rank and file preselection held in Fairy Meadow today.

Ms Blakey recently contested the federal seat of Cunningham for The Greens, where her high personal standing and The Greens work to save the steelworks saw huge swings to Ms Blakey in the booths around the steelworks. The Greens polled 19% at Ms Blakey's former primary school, Mt St Thomas.

Ms Blakey says that she will be campaigning for public education, an end to the Baird Liberal Government's wholesale privatisation of public assets, protecting local jobs and action on climate change.

"It is disappointing that the Liberals aren't even bothering to field a candidate. Our community has been dismayed at the Baird Liberal Governments's reckless sell off of public assets that have been built up over generations.

"The Greens will campaign for our positive vision for the Illawarra: for a sustainable and fair society where we use the challenge of climate change to provide good jobs to people in our community.