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Marketing executive and former journalist Dai Le. Photo: James Alcock

Pressure is building on the NSW Liberal Party to preselect a woman to its upper house ticket for next year's state election, with four female candidates putting their hands up.

Marketing executive and former journalist Dai Le nominated shortly before the deadline of October 1.

She is joined by Woollahra councillor Katherine O'Regan, who served as chief of staff to former environment minister Robyn Parker,andMary-Lou Jarvis, an adviser to Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.

Woollahra councillor Katherine O'Regan is one of four female Liberal candidates for next year's state election. Photo: Tamara Dean

Their nominations follow that of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's sister Christine Forster, who is a City of Sydney councillor.

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Ms Le, who stood unsuccessfully for the Liberals in the seat of Cabramatta at the 2011 election, was a surprisenon-starter for the south-western Sydney provincial spot on the upper house ticket this year. She is close to retiring upper house MP Charlie Lynn and was regarded as a strong contender to replace him.

Instead, a little-known motor mechanic and Wollondilly councillor, Lou Amato, was the only candidate to nominate for Mr Lynn's position. He secured the winnable spot thanks to backing from local powerbroker Jai Rowell, who is the minister for mental health.

Mr Lynn told Parliament in May that he was "absolutely perplexed as to how a position that commands a six-figure salary with a secure eight-year tenure could attract only one applicant, apparently an unknown tradesman with an invisible history in the Liberal Party".

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Liberals under more pressure to preselect a woman to upper house