Wollongong businessman Chris Atlee has gotten the green light and will be the Liberal candidate for the federal seat of Cunningham.
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Mr Atlee said he was not worried about starting his campaign less than a month before the election on May 18.
"I have got a good campaign team now who are working out an action plan for me," he said.
"As owner of the Comic Cafe, I want to make sure I look after small businesses. I want to make sure we get a fair go in the Illawarra."
Mr Atlee said he had already been talking with members of the community about issues that were important to them and was a former president of the Corrimal Chamber of Commerce.
Incumbent Cunningham MP Sharon Bird put a challenge to the Liberal candidate to secure big bucks for the region as she had done from the Labor party.
"I want to fight for my region," he said.
"If elected, I will fight in the party room and during the election campaign I want to get as much for the area as possible.
"I am in ongoing discussions with the party and I will be making some announcements soon."
Mr Atlee unsuccessfully ran against Keira MP Ryan Park at the state election and said that experience had taught him to develop a "thick skin".
"I don't want to be a politician but I do want to get the best deal for the region," he said. "Instead of complaining I am prepared to do something about it."
Federal candidate nominations closed on Tuesday. The ballot paper will be held on Wednesday.