THE federal election has finally been called for May 21, and that means the Australian flags, coloured balloons and slightly cringeworthy campaign shirts are now out in full force.
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Member for New England and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was straight into the action on Sunday afternoon, trying to convince people in his electorate and beyond to vote for the Coalition.
Fronting media in his Tamworth office, the leader of The Nationals promised to fight for the New England and keep its people front and centre of his mind over the next six weeks - even if he's not always in the region.
"I'm here today and obviously then I'm on the road and then I'm back, people in the New England understand that with the office of deputy prime minister comes a job and an obligation to the nation.
"People in the New England are very patriotic and they understand the obligation to your nation as well as the duty to the local electorate and I'll be trying to balance those as well as I can."
The electorate remains a safe seat, with Mr Joyce winning 54.82 per cent of the primary vote in 2019, more than 40 per cent more than second place.
However, the unpopularity of Prime Minister Scott Morrison according to polls, along with the fact construction on Dungowan Dam is yet to begin, has lead Mr Joyce to acknowledge he can't take things easy at a local level.
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"I never take anything for granted, I'll work tirelessly for every vote. We've delivered for the New England, we've delivered in roads, mobile phone towers and bridges, in health and everything from halls in regional areas to sporting facilities.
"We look to every corner of our electorate"
Mr Joyce made a point of speaking about how the Coalition would look out for the regions, and continue pouring money into water infrastructure around the country, even though it has caused headaches for them so far.
The Dungowan Dam is yet to get under construction despite being announced in 2019, but Mr Joyce denies he would view the project as a personal failure even if it never goes ahead should Labor win the election and not fund it.
"I would view that as an absolute expose of how Labor works, the Labor party win then the Greens run the show, they stop the dam," he said.
Mr Joyce said should Labor win the election, he would remain on the frontbench for the Coalition.
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Cody Tsaousis
I'm a news reporter who enjoys covering politics and energy, but I will write about anything for my community. I moved to the New England in 2021 after spending several years in the Upper Hunter.
I'm a news reporter who enjoys covering politics and energy, but I will write about anything for my community. I moved to the New England in 2021 after spending several years in the Upper Hunter.
