After achieving a high watermark in the 2011 election, the Nats were under no illusions about their chances at Saturday’s general poll.

They focused on a defensive campaign and faced a number of high-profile Labor and independent candidates across the state.

They appear set to retain 16 of their 18 seats, with North Coast seats Ballina and Lismore likely to fall to the Greens.

Senior campaign spokesman Julian Luke said the party faced “the most dishonest campaign” on CSG policy led by the unions and Labor, which appears to have cut through.

“Certainly the communities up there spoke really clearly with their votes,” he told AAP.

“It’s an issue that we’re going to have to address.”

Mr Luke said it was pleasing to see Small Business Minister John Barilaro on track to retain his bellwether seat of Monaro in southern NSW.

The seat has gone with the winning party in 25 of the past 28 elections. Mr Barilaro spoke candidly about his opposition to power privatisation during the campaign – something Mr Luke says has paid off in Monaro.

“It’s not a position that the premier would probably agree with, but he’d certainly respect him for representing the views of his community,” he said.

Mr Luke said the other key to the Nationals’ success was showing that it was not simply a “complicit Coalition partner” on issues such as CSG mining and electricity privatisation.

“We are our own party and our members are individual members that represent their communities – they don’t toe the party line,” he said.