The by-election is a result of Joyce's disqualification as a candidate by the High Court following the discovery that he was a New Zealand citizen at the time of the 2016 election. Despite the dual citizen debacle, Joyce was quick to acknowledge that he will again be running for the New England electorate, having already started his campaign throughout the Upper Hunter. Earlier this month, he was rubbing shoulders with locals in Murrurundi, visiting local businesses and even having a bite to eat at the Willow Tree Hotel. 

While in Scone, Mr Joyce said mobile phone towers, agriculture and the thoroughbred industry were all among top funding priorities for the Upper Hunter should he be re-elected.

“There have been no mobile phone towers under the Labor and Greens alliance put into the Upper Hunter and I think we have to drive for what we can do there,” he said.  “I’ll be making sure that we keep the agricultural economy firing along, that’s why we are upgrading the saleyards, because we know that with the record prices we have been getting for cattle, maintaining that is important.”

Though the Nationals candidate has ruffled some feathers, announcing he will not be attending any public debates in the lead up to the by-election. Labor candidate for New England, David Ewings said the refusal to attend public debates was a poor effort on Barnaby’s part.  

“Barnaby Joyce is taking votes for granted,” he said. 

“The public forums are about giving local voters the opportunity to have their questions answered.”

Barnaby’s main rival in the 2016 election and former independent New England MP, Tony Windsor, has announced he won’t be standing as a candidate this time around.

As for the remaining candidates, it remains a mixed bag. Candidates running include:

To find out more about the by-election, including the candidates, visit http://www.aec.gov.au/new-england/