"Goolburra Norrambang-ga, Yoowindoo Troy Grant leader of the Nationals, Nardoo Barney go gulburra Wiradjuri mayin Gulung, Norrambang-ga Neenah girra Doorinya gay-Ida."

These are Wiradjuri words, the language of the people living around Dubbo.

They were fluidly delivered on Sunday to a predominantly white bread audience by a former local policeman turned politician who learnt the language because he thought a young constable should be able to speak with the locals.

Troy Grant did not bother translating.

He did not need to.

The fact that the L plate National Party leader used them at the launch of a NSW state election campaign is evidence of tree change in a party caught between a pastoral past and a provincial cities future.

Warming up the audience for Grant, veteran Nationals MP Duncan Gay wallowed in that past, saying the new leader wore "the boots with the ease, the grace and the charm of a Wal Murray".

"He's got that feeling of Country Party about him . . ."

Grant did a sort of update.

"I refer to myself as a son of regional NSW because each of those country towns and regions, their families and communities have given me every opportunity I have enjoyed in my life and I am determined to give back by serving them to the best of my ability," he told a crowd of about 500 at the Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre.

"I have lived and worked in many parts of regional NSW throughout my life: I have lived in small towns grappling with job losses and drought; I have travelled with my family for hours upon hours to access healthcare; I have seen countless families torn apart by alcohol and drug abuse, and I have pulled far too many bodies from the wreckages of accidents on unsafe roads to not be determined to do something about it."

The government has promised $6 billion of the expected $20 billion proceeds from the privatisation of poles and wires would be spent on regional infrastructure, even though the regional electricity network owned by Essential Energy will be kept in public ownership.

Grant outlined a raft of election promises for the bush including $500 million to upgrade the Newell Highway, $75 million for an investment fund to create country jobs and a "rural education hub" in Queanbeyan.

Premier Mike Baird introduced Grant. Federal luminaries including Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss and Barnaby Joyce joined retiring former leaders George Souris and Andrew Stoner to cheer their new boy on. He entered the auditorium with his wife, Toni, and their two children and strode confidently to the speaker's dais to take charge.

Grant spoke of "Labor Sydney" as if it were another counry. So, too, did Baird and Gay.

But it was Grant's decision to use the phrase "Sydney Labor government" at least five times during his speech.

The three words whipped up the audience.

"But enough on the past," he said finally.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, this election should be a contest of ideas, not fear and smear.

"This election is a clear choice for regional NSW; will you continue to be at the heart of government getting your fair share or will you go back to being an afterthought. In just four years, we have delivered a lot, but there is still a lot more we need to do."

Grant finished and the audience filed out for sandwiches just like the old days at a public hall.