Linda Burney is one step closer to becoming the first indigenous woman in the House of Representatives.
The former NSW Labor deputy leader was unanimously backed at a national executive meeting on Friday to contest the southern Sydney seat of Barton at this year's federal election.
An ALP spokesman would not confirm reports there were two other party members who nominated against Ms Burney but told AAP the national executive vote was 21-0.
Barton has been extensively redrawn in a redistribution, changing it from a marginal Liberal seat to marginal Labor.
It has been held by the Liberals' Nick Varvaris since 2013, but before that was held by Labor's Robert McClelland since 1996.
Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese said he was confident Ms Burney would be successful in her bid to move to federal politics.
"She'll be a great asset for the Labor team and I'm confident that she'll be a very good member for the electorate of Barton," he said earlier on Friday.
If Ms Burney is successful she will make history by becoming the first indigenous woman in federal parliament's lower house.
Ms Burney - a Wiradjuri woman - was the first indigenous Australian to serve in NSW parliament when she was elected to the seat of Canterbury in 2003.
Upper House MP Sophie Cotsis was also on Friday officially endorsed as Labor's candidate for a by-election in the southwest Sydney seat to replace Ms Burney, with a date for the poll yet to be decided.
An ALP spokesman said Ms Cotsis was the only candidate in the pre-selection.
