The domain names jeffdrayton.com.au (Labor) and suegilroy.com.au (Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party) had been under the control of the Nationals since the start of the campaign.

The move followed a request from the Labor Party to run a 'positive campaign.'

"At 9.30am this morning (National Party candidate) Dave Layzell requested that the domain names be relinquished," a spokesman for Mr Layzell said.

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"He didn't have anything to do with it (securing the domain names). He wants to run a clean campaign and talk about the future of the Upper Hunter."

Both of the domain names still could not be accessed late on Sunday.

Labor candidate Jeff Drayton said he was committed to running a positive campaign, "focused on delivering more jobs, better job security and a fairer share for the people of the Upper Hunter."

"This campaign should be about the Upper Hunter getting our fair share. I'm running to bring more jobs and more opportunity to our region. I've got no interest in smears or dirty tricks," he said on Sunday morning.

"People here want us to focus on the things that actually matter to them. I'm going to be talking about secure jobs, better roads, and stopping the cuts to TAFE. It's disappointing that the Nationals candidates isn't doing the same"

With six candidates now in the race, preferences are likely to determine the outcome of the hotly contested May 22 byelection.

The National Party needs to retain the seat, which it has held for the past 90 years, to avoid plunging the Coalition into minority government in NSW.

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