THE Nationals party is under siege with the fallout from the Barnaby Joyce affair scandal, and confirmation the party will be strongly challenged in the key NSW seat of Upper Hunter in the 2019 state election.
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Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen faces tough opposition in an electorate that went from one of the safest Nationals seats in the state under former MP George Souris, to marginal in 2015 when Mr Johnsen was elected after strong competition from Country Labor’s Muswellbrook mayor Martin Rush.
One Nation Hunter spokesman Brian Burston had barely confirmed his party planned to run a strong campaign in the Upper Hunter but had not yet finalised a candidate, when NSW Country Labor opened its pre-selection ballot which will run until early March.
The party would not comment on likely candidates but it is understood senior Labor Party officials are very keen for Mr Rush to run again after the Nationals’ margin dropped from 23 per cent under Mr Souris to just 4.42 per cent for Mr Johnsen.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party also launched its run for the seat early in the form of accountant and former Liberal John Preston, who has been active in the Upper Hunter for more than a year after predicting that “We’re going to have some fun”.
Upper Hunter was targeted as the first of “winnable” NSW lower house seats after the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers surprise narrow win against the Nationals in the Orange by-election in November, 2016. The win broke the Nationals’ 69-year hold on Orange.
The Nationals were also surprised by the Upper Hunter outcome in 2015 where Mr Rush achieved the best Labor result in the seat in more than a century.
Upper Hunter Shire councillor Lee Watts did not return a call about whether she planned to stand again in 2019 after a strong showing in 2015. Ms Watts secured 19 per cent of primary votes.
Mr Preston has been heavily campaigning on the need for drought relief for farmers over the past few months, accusing Mr Johnsen of abandoning Upper Hunter farmers.
“It’s unconscionable that our farmers here in NSW no longer have access to drought relief: the NSW Nationals quietly scrapped it when times were good,” Mr Preston said.
The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party had “very active branches” in Muswellbrook, Scone and Newcastle, a party spokesperson said.
The Nationals took hits in NSW after the Coalition Government’s controversial council amalgamations and the greyhound ban and backflip. Mr Johnsen was criticised for his public comments on both issues.
Michael Johnsen did not respond to a request for comment.