Bishop preselection set for April

Bronwyn Bishop will find out next month whether she has Liberal support to recontest her seat.

The former speaker, who lost her job over an expenses scandal, will face a preselection ballot in her Sydney seat of Mackellar on April 16.

Her main challengers will be Liberal staffer Jason Falinski, who has strong factional support, and Walter Villatora, who has letters of support from NSW Premier Mike Baird and former prime minister Tony Abbott.

Last week concerns were raised about the way in which the preselection process is being run by the Liberal state executive.

Rose Bay branch member David Flint told the ABC's 7.30 that party members were no longer willing to throw their hats in the ring because "they know that the determination has been made in advance".

There are concerns within the party that the preselection in Mackellar has been delayed to protect Mrs Bishop.

It is understood the preselection will involve a ballot of 96 members, most of whom are not drawn from local branches.

Liberal preselections are also due to be held in Berowra (April 16), Macquarie (April 19) and Hughes (April 20).