THE Nationals will allow an entire electorate to select its candidate for the 2011 NSW election in an Australian first, as part of a reform process for the party.
The community pre-selection proposal was first floated by Nationals leader Andrew Stoner and party chairwoman Christine Ferguson in January.
Meeting in Wagga Wagga, in southern NSW, for the annual state conference, the Nationals' central council has now given the proposal the green light and will be trialled in one electorate for the 2011 poll.
"This reform will empower even more people to become part of the process to select the best advocate for their local region," Mr Stoner said.
"Community preselections have the potential to revitalise Australian politics and restore public faith in our democracy."
Under the trial, polling booths will operate to allow everyone enrolled in the chosen electorate to vote on who they would like to see as the Nationals candidate.
Currently, only card-carrying members of the party have a say in that process.
Individual electorate councils within the Nationals will now be asked if they would like to have their candidate chosen via community pre-selection.
Mr Stoner previously has said that if the trial works, it would be expanded to other seats for the 2015 election.
The National Party of Australia announced at its state conference on Friday, that it would do a trial run of community pre-selections in one electorate at the 2011 New South Wales election. The move, which would be organised similar to primaries in the United States would be an Australian first.

At present only members of the party are involved in the pre-selection process.

NSW leader of the National Party, Andrew Stoner said, "This reform will empower even more people to become part of the process to select the best advocate for their local region. Community preselections have the potential to revitalise Australian politics and restore public faith in our democracy." If the trial shows to be effective, they will expand the process in the 2015 elections.

It was also announced at the state conference that three-way contests between the National Party, Liberal Party and Labor Party would be eliminated under a new agreement between the Liberals and Nationals. The coalition parties have agreed not to run against each other in each electorate, with some electorates having Liberal candidates and others having National candidates.