In the beginning, each candidate was given 90 seconds to state their case, and most chose to say why they had entered the race for the seat in the first place.

For Deputy Prime Minister and member for New England Barnaby Joyce, it was about the future and the “drive for jobs”, while for Tenterfield’s Robert Walker from the Online Direct Democracy Party, it was more about a legacy for “the children and young adults of this generation”.

Armidale’s Rob Taber, who is running as an independent, was keen to urge caution from voters when it comes to preferences, which he said “will make a massive difference” and potentially decide the seat.

Armidale solicitor and independent candidate Philip Cox, said he “does not have a vested interest in supporting one political party”, which he believes would give him the advantage. 

So does Tony Windsor, who's come out of political retirement to stand again as an Independent. He told the gallery  he is doing it for the generations to come. A timely concern, given the arrival of yet another grandchild for the Windsor clan during the week.   

Labor’s David Ewings traveled up from Scone for the debate. He admitted that the ALP had “not done well in putting political resources into the regions”, but that there is “a bit more going on this time around”. 

David Mailer is representing CountryMinded and told the audience he was “disenchanted about the level of engagement in rural and regional Australia, which lead to the establishment of the party and that land and water needed to be better protected.

Ironically for a debate, there was plenty of agreement amongst the candidates over where the region is headed and where there needs to be improvement, the NBN for one, while Gonski funding was another hot topic.

The Coalition’s promise to move the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to Armidale if they are returned to government drew criticism from Mr Ewings (Labor), who said “it just won’t happen, they won’t want to move”. 

In reply, Barnaby Joyce said it was about decentralisation, moving jobs to the region and “not just Armidale” and that will continue to be a focus of his. 

TAFE funding and mental health services in regional areas were also part of a heated discussion by the candidates. 

Then it was time for questions from the audience, where water infrastructure, a potentially hung parliament, the planned plebiscite on same-sex marriage and the drug problem in regional areas were front and centre.

Wal Filicietti asked the candidates what they would do to address drug issues in this region.

He said after the debate: “I was more asking what they were going to do for people who already had a problem. Most of the answers 

I got was how to stop people from becoming a problem.”

Canberra-based activist Matthew Armstrong, who was in the region for a protest over the weekend, said: “I would have liked more information on the cuts to Gonski funding for school kids’ education, but it was well worth it.”

Joyce Webster from Tamworth said she found the debate helpful when it came to the lesser-known contenders.

“It was the others I was interested in, the ones that we didn’t know so much about, what their ideas were,” she said.

In conclusion, on one final question, seven of the eight candidates were in favour of a four-year fixed term for governments. Armidale Independent Philip Cox was the only candidate to vote 'NO'.

The Nationals Barnaby Joyce said it would give governments more time to “get the nation moving” instead of going into election mode.