All five hopefuls for the seat of Upper Hunter – Country Labor’s Michael Gibbons, the Nationals’ George Souris, the Greens’ Chris Parker, the Christian Democratic Party’s Fred Cowley and independent Tim Duddy – were present at the event, hosted by Unions NSW.

The need for a Muswellbrook bypass, power privatisation and better funding for the region were top of the agenda.

Mr Gibbons said the Coalition’s plan to amalgamate energy service providers would mean less competition and higher prices.

“They have form; jobs will be cut,” he said.

He urged the audience to be wary of a result where the Coalition would control both the houses of Parliament.

“They will have a blank cheque to do whatever they like,” he said.

Incumbent Nationals member George Souris said returning him to office would allow the electorate to “claim a place at the table of government”.

“Like you, the bypass is at the top of my list,” he said.

Greens candidate Chris Parker said he was against power privatisation.

“The Greens have continually waged war on the privatisation of public assets,” he said. “Public assets are just that – public.”

Mr Parker said more money deserved to be returned to mining regions.

“Regional areas are suffering because money is not being injected back into hospitals and schools.”

Fred Cowley, a grazier, said he was running to send a message to the Labor Party.

“I am here to give people an option, so people can register to these people that they are not happy with them,” he said.

Independent Tim Duddy said a lack of planning had meant agriculture and mining were not working together but pitted against each other.

“The Upper Hunter is an enormously rich region in many ways,” he said. “If we look out the window today, you would never tell.”

He said the New England Highway running through Muswellbrook’s main street put people in danger.

“Almost every day there is a near miss,” he said.