Following the abolition of the Murrumbidgee electorate last year, Mr Piccoli must make a decision about which new seat he will represent. 

The Griffith born-and-bred education minister told The Area News he would run in next year’s election and has no plans to move, but stopped short of connecting the dots. 

“I will definitely stand again,” he said. 

“I live in the new Murray seat and I’m not moving anywhere, but I have to speak to the National party at a local level before I make any announcements.

“As I live in the new Murray electorate it’s the most obvious choice.

“It is sometimes presumptuous for MPs to say where they’re standing because it is a party decision, but within the next six weeks a decision will be made.”

Griffith’s new state seat of Murray will span from Leeton to the South Australian border, but Mr Piccoli said he would not be fazed by the increased travel if that’s what he chose. 

“Big electorates are part of being a country MP,” Mr Piccoli said. 

“Nobody fought against the new boundaries harder than I did and the National party made submissions that argued to keep the existing Murrumbidgee electorate

“I have suggested the next time they do (a redistribution) they need to make sure they have someone from western NSW on the panel who understands the consequences of distance.”

After minister for primary industry Katrina Hodgkinson attracted national headlines with her challenge and suspected withdrawal for the seat of Goulburn, Mr Piccoli said he would not be distracted by the hype.

“My job is to represent my current electorate, which I’m doing with great vigour and enthusiasm,” he said.

“I know some people get preoccupied by the politics of who is standing where but I am less interested in that.”

Mr Piccoli’s comments appeared to end speculation he may have instead run for the region’s other newly formed seat, Cootamundra, which will run from Barrellan to Cowra.