NSW Labor Conference at Sydney's Town Hall, February 2016. Kaila Murnain Photo: James Brickwood

NSW Labor has appointed an independent lawyer to investigate allegations of vote rigging in community preselections.

Fairfax Media reported on Saturday that a Labor party official had used a central database containing electoral roll details to influence the outcome of the NSW preselection ballot in the state seat of Ballina in 2014.

It was alleged members of the public were randomly chosen and their names and addresses used to vote online for head office pick, Paul Spooner who went on to win the ballot. There's no suggestion that Mr Spooner was involved in the proposed rigging.

This was despite community preselections being lauded by NSW Labor as a key reform to democratise the party and give the rank and file members, as well as the wider community, a greater say in the candidates chosen.

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In a statement, NSW Labor said it was under new leadership.

"The Party Officers have today resolved to engage an independent lawyer to determine whether there is any substance to these allegations and will work with the electoral commission to resolve these issues," the statement said.

Former NSW Labor general secretary Jamie Clements was charged this week with misuse of the electoral roll over a separate incident, in which he is alleged to have leaked personal details to a union boss.

Mr Clements resigned in January over allegations of sexual harassment involving a Labor party employee.

His successor as general secretary, Kaila Murnain, oversaw the introduction of a code of conduct in an attempt to shake off the scandals that had engulfed Sussex Street.

The NSW party voted at its annual conference to appoint a director of governance, external training for finance committee members, and use an independent third party to conduct the next NSW Labor leadership ballot.

In the statement on Saturday, NSW Labor said it "takes the electoral roll obligations very seriously and a number of new processes are now in place to ensure all staff fully comply with those obligations".