Labor senator and former NSW premier Kristina Keneally has confirmed she will nominate for pre-selection to run in a western Sydney lower house seat.

Senator Keneally will aim to replace retiring MP Chris Hayes in Fowler at the next federal election.

“Since Chris announced his retirement, I have been approached by ALP branch members urging me to consider nomination for the seat of Fowler,” she said on Friday.

“I am humbled by this encouragement.”

She said she aimed to serve as home affairs minister in an Albanese Labor government.

Tweet from @KKeneally

Mr Hayes had backed local lawyer Tu Le to replace him in representing the multicultural electorate, which Labor holds with a 14 per cent margin.

Ms Le said she was disappointed to miss out, given 15 per cent of people in the electorate were of Vietnamese origin.

“Our diverse communities should be reflected in the Australian parliament,” she told The Australian.

“We need more diverse voices in parliament so no one is left behind and everyone is included.”

Ms Le represents exploited migrant workers and is a youth leader at the Vietnamese Buddhist Youth Association.

“It’s pretty disappointing and disheartening not just for myself but for the local community to be taken for granted in this way,” she told the ABC.

It’s very unfortunate that the voices of the local members aren’t heard.”

Senator Keneally confirmed she would move from her current home on Sydney’s northern beaches to Fowler in the city’s west.

“Serving this community, living in this community, and fighting for them is what I want to do,” she said.

Senator Keneally, who is Labor’s deputy leader in the upper house, faced an uncertain future.

Fellow right faction member Deborah O’Neill received strong support to take top spot on Labor’s NSW Senate ticket at the next election.

With the left’s Jenny McAllister taking second position, Senator Keneally would likely have been relegated to the hard-to-win third spot.

Labor has not won three seats in NSW at a regular half-Senate election since Kevin Rudd swept to power in 2007.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has been a strong supporter of Senator Keneally who holds Labor’s home affairs, immigration, citizenship and government accountability portfolios.

-with AAP