ALP Ballina candidate announced

Byron Shire councillor Paul Spooner has been preselected to run for Labor in the northern NSW seat of Ballina at next year's election.

Mr Spooner was selected in the party's first regional trial of community preselection, in which more than 2,300 people voted for their preferred candidate.

The seat is held by Nationals MP and former minister Don Page, who is retiring at the March election.

In the 2011 election Mr Page smashed all competition picking up 54.8 per cent of the first preference vote compared to 23 per cent for his closest rival.

Labor's candidate only secured 12.3 per cent of the first preference vote and a dismal 24.8 per cent of the two candidate preferred measure, in contrast to Mr Page's 75.2 per cent.

Despite the result, Labor leader John Robertson says the "people of Ballina have been taken for granted by the Nationals for far too long."

"Paul has a strong connection with the local community and I know he will be a strong voice for the issues like CSG exploration, health and education," Mr Robertson said.

Mr Spooner said the electorate deserved a "better deal" and he looked forward to fighting on their behalf.