Cr McCubbin told The Express he was ``happy to assist the Labor campaign'' and was comfortable ``being a councillor and spending time with family'' but did not rule out a preselection bid.

``You can't rule anything out,'' Cr McCubbin said.

``We haven't had an announcement of an election date and when that comes around I'm sure more will be known.''

Cr McCubbin said he had discussed the election with Labor party members.

Nationals MHR for Gippsland Darren Chester recently announced his plans to stand for re-election.

Mr Chester and Cr McCubbin went head to head in the 2008 Gippsland by-election after the resignation of The Nationals' Peter McGauran who held the seat for 25 years.

Labor chose Cr McCubbin as its candidate over then-Latrobe City councillor David Wilson, even though he had only been a member of the party for a few days prior.

The move was criticised by one senior party figure.

In the by-election McCubbin gained 28.41 per cent of the primary vote with Chester gaining 39.60 per cent to win.

``It's important the Labor side is well represented, we are a safe conservative seat and it's extremely important we make a case for Gippsland,'' Cr McCubbin said.