Farmers, energy experts, concerned residents and four of the 17 New England by-election candidates attended the event, aimed at highlighting the risks to food, textile production and the environment as a result of “inadequate action by governments” to address climate change.

Event organiser and New England Climate Action Group member Emma Stilts warned voters to consider the environment’s future when they head to the ballot boxes next Saturday. 

“We should be protecting our land, food and water resources, not damaging them by the continual burning of fossil fuels,” she said.

“There is a growing sense of voter backlash this by-election.

“Mr (Barnaby) Joyce is taking the seat for granted.

“When voting we remind people to consider the future.

“Who is going to protect the future of our food bowl from fossil fuel expansion and dangerous climate change?”

Opening speaker Harry Creamer, a National Parks ranger of 30 years and Climate Action Groups of Australia president, urged the government to stop p

"Joyce is a huge problem for action we need to secure a safe climate and more clean energy.

“Responsible governments do not play politics with our lives.

“Responsible governments don’t play the drug dealer’s defence that if we don’t export coal, somebody else will.

“The Australian government has signed the Paris Climate Agreement and it, local and state governments must accept the responsibilities that go with that, and that includes no new coal mines.”

Quirindi farmer Jim McDonald, who doubles as a Farmers for Climate Action member, addressed the rally on Australia’s rising temperatures

“As farmers, we play a game of snakes and ladders,” he said.

“We used to have a reasonable idea of what the board had for us.

“We knew there were snakes – drought, floods, fires, frosts – but we also knew there were ladders.

“Those seasons where the rain fell at the right time, things went well, and they more than made up for the snakes we’d suffered.

“Through the same science used to understand the global climate, we began to understand that the snakes and ladders were largely driven by changes to the climate.

Mr McDonald said the future temperature of Tamworth in 20 years’ time would be similar to that found 300-400km north of Moree.

“I’m hoping the new member for New England, whoever that might be, will take heed of our message and think about the climate we wish to leave for our children.”

Mr Joyce’s office declined to comment.

Greens candidate Peter Willis, Country Minded candidate Peter Mailler and Independent candidate Jeff Madden all addressed the rally, while Narelle Langfield read a speech on behalf of Independent candidate Rob Taber.