Safe NSW Liberal seats up for grabs

Political wannabes in NSW are eyeing blue-ribbon seats as one Liberal heavyweight announces he's quitting politics and another signals his exit.

Former attorney-general Greg Smith on Wednesday said he wouldn't re-contest his safe seat of Epping, in Sydney's north, in next year's election.

The respected lawyer's decision didn't come as a surprise after he was dumped from the front bench in April by newly appointed Premier Mike Baird.

Mr Smith plans on returning to law after being hounded by his political opponents and the tabloid media as being soft on crime and nicknamed "Marshmallow Man".

Despite being initially critical of mandatory sentencing, Mr Smith backflipped and supported the government's raft of tough alcohol-related violence measures.

The about-face came to define his stint as attorney-general.

Mr Smith's exit may pave the way for his son, plumber-turned-Kogarah councillor Nathaniel Smith, to succeed him in Epping, which he holds on an 11 per cent margin.

A more likely Liberal candidate for Epping is lawyer Noel McCoy, who was a former campaign manager for Mr Smith and a former federal president of the Young Liberals.

Mr McCoy, 36, is tipped to run and has been touted as a rising right-wing star and would likely receive strong support from the right faction which dominates the Epping State Conference.

The very safe seat of Ku-ring-gai may also be up for grabs, with former premier Barry O'Farrell telling the Seven Network he might soon quit parliament.

The seat, which is sitting on a 22 per cent margin, is hot property for the Liberal Party and is expected to attract a number of interested candidates.

Former policy adviser to ex-prime minister John Howard, Tim James, is understood to be keen to run for the seat should Mr O'Farrell decide not to recontest.

Mr James is chief of staff for Energy Minister Anthony Roberts and a senior figure on the right.

A barrister and a lieutenant-commander in the navy reserve, Sophie York, may also put her hand up for Ku-ring-gai.