Rev Bradbery declined to comment on the matter when contacted by the Mercury, but said Wollongong was desperate for a candidate who put the city's needs before party politics.

"We need someone independent of the major political parties, a candidate that can represent the needs of the community without having to be accountable to other interests, someone who is not corralled by the caucus or party headquarters," he said.

"Wollongong has unfortunately been short-changed because of its devotion to one political party.

"The voters of Wollongong should consider freeing themselves from their predictability," he added.

Rev Bradbery outlined a "Wollongong first" policy position he said should be high in the mind of any new candidate.

"You always have to be conscious that you're part of a bigger entity, that is the state of NSW, but you are there to represent Wollongong's needs and interests," he said. "We need someone to go in and bat for us."

He listed health care and hospitals, improved public housing and child welfare as issues of concern and lamented the poor state of the Wollongong to Sydney rail link.

Although tight-lipped about his rumoured run, Rev Bradbery conceded politics would be a natural progression from his social justice work.

"I've always had a desire for a better community," he said. "Through the church and involvement in the community I've become aware of the needs and the dynamics of what's going on - it's given me a good taste of what's happening."