Mr Fitzsimon, who entered the fray on Thursday as the endorsed candidate after councillor Jeff Whitton withdrew, said he felt “excited, honoured and privileged” to stand for another election, but relieved a preselection ballot was not needed.

“Preselections are always stressful, but it was a very gracious act on Jeff Whitton’s part,” he said.

“I think what we have to do is maintain continuity of candidates – you don’t create a person or candidate or philosophy overnight.”

Although the byelection will not change the government, the father of five said Labor would carry a mandate to repeal the greyhound ban if it won office at the next general election.

“Labor doesn’t believe in collective punishment,” he said.

He also opposed forced amalgamations, further privatisation to the electricity sector and falling TAFE participation rates.

“Since 2011, we’ve lost 550 apprenticeships across the electorate,” he said.

“At the Department of Primary Industries, there was a $2 million underspend last year – farmers and researchers are telling me things aren’t happening.” 

With former member for Orange Andrew Gee increasing his margin on Mr Fitzsimon at the March 2015 election, the Labor candidate believed the byelection against Nationals candidate Scott Barrett would be much closer, especially with the addition of independent Scott Munro.

He was not deterred by their agricultural experience, saying he had lived in the area for 50 years and worked as a shearer and a rouse about.

“It will be much more interesting and we’re looking forward to it with a degree of relish,” he said.

“This will be determined on policy, not on our previous careers.”