Flanked by candidate Kate Washington, Mr Foley - who was endorsed as the new Labor leader on January 5 after the sudden resignation of John Robertson - visited Raymond Terrace on January 8.

He said Port Stephens was an important seat in the March 28 state election.

"The people of Port Stephens have a wonderful candidate in Kate Washington who was preselected a year ago and knows the issues," he said. "This is in stark contrast to the Liberals who less than two months out of the election still haven't named a candidate."

Mr Foley said he relished the opportunity to lead the party and fight the campaign.

"I won't be getting personal. I have never exchanged a bad word with [Premier] Mike Baird and don't intend to," he said.

Mrs Washington, who lost the last state election to Liberal incumbent Craig Baumann by about 10,000 votes (two-party preferred), said she was confident she could rein in the 14 per cent needed to wrestle the seat back into Labor hands.

She said she had been getting the message from the community that they are sick of cuts to services, such as the Yacaaba Centre in Nelson Bay.

"As for education, I want a discussion ensuring this electorate has the education resources our schools require to function effectively."