Mr Bickley tweeted the news on Friday afternoon.

"As per the tweet I can confirm I lodged an application for pre selection for Bendigo East," he said.

"So I'm a preselection candidate and at this stage preselection rules preclude me from making any further comment other than to confirm that I have lodged an application to be a candidate."

Meanwhile, the Bendigo Advertiser reported recently the Victorian Labor Party had preselected Bendigo MPs Jacinta Allan and Maree Edwards to contest the seats of Bendigo East and Bendigo West at the state election.

The pair said they were honoured to have the opportunity to continue to serve the central Victorian community.

Ms Allan released a statement on Friday afternoon about Mr Bickley's announcement.

"Greg Bickley spent an estimated $1 million to win the federal seat of Bendigo and lost," she said.

"If Greg Bickley is the Liberal candidate in Bendigo East he can spend another million dollars trying to cover up the Liberals hacking into TAFE and jobs at Holden and SPC, but I will take him on over the key things that matter to families and workers."

Mr Bickley thanked the public last year for their support during the federal election capaign.

“It’s with sincere gratitude that I thank residents across the Bendigo electorate for their support on election day and throughout the election campaign," he said.

“I have contacted Lisa and congratulated her on retaining the seat. 

"I’m proud of the very strong grassroots campaign that we’ve run across the electorate...My aim throughout this journey has been to ensure that the Bendigo electorate got the attention it deserved. 

"I’m confident that this has been achieved with the Liberals winning the primary vote and Bendigo now being a marginal seat."

Labor announces its state preselection