Buoyed by her election to local government last September, the outspoken councillor now hopes to try her chances at a state level.

‘‘I come from a union background and I want to see workers protected,’’ she said.

‘‘Instead of us having conversations about gay marriage, I want to see the community know about what other decisions are being made, about social justice, about welfare cuts. We are going to have welfare lines outside Woolworths. We are going to have high unemployment and I want the community to know about other issues of social justice.’’

Cr Curran made her name as an anti-corruption campaigner who rose to prominence after accusing then council staffer and ALP heavyweight Joe Scimone of sexual harassment.

Mr Scimone denied the claim. The matter was settled out of court.

Ms Curran was also active in the last state election, helping Wollongong MP Noreen Hay defeat independent Gordon Bradbery at the polls. She has also joined community campaigns by the Greens and offered to help Liberal candidate Michelle Blicavs.

Cr Curran said her support for Ms Hay at the last state election was non-partisan and that she had also offered her support to other female candidates.

‘‘This was not about the party, it was about who would have the intelligence to hit the floor running in Parliament and [Liberal candidate] Michelle and Noreen are both strong advocates for the region,’’ she said, adding she had been encouraged to run for the last council election by Ms Hay.

‘‘Noreen Hay called me and said she was calling me as a female and was encouraging me to run in Ward 3,’’ Cr Curran said.

Ms Hay said while she ‘‘wholeheartedly’’ encouraged Cr Curran to run at the time, she was firmly behind Labor’s Chris Connor.