Will mergers impact on federal vote?

Traditionally The Nationals heartland, the state’s forced amalgamation agenda has crept into the federal campaign and is expected to be a deciding factor for some.

Derek Johnson, a former National Party branch president, is one resident pushing for change and is calling for locals to put The Nationals “last on all ballot papers”.

“I feel they no longer represent the people of Cabonne,” Mr Johnson said.

“I’m very disillusioned about this issue and how they just brushed it away.”

He said as the party for regional Australia The Nationals were supposed to defend rural areas from the interests of the city.

A Nationals voter all his life, Mr Johnson said he hoped a protest vote would register a message not just with Canberra but also Sydney.

“Once people step away from their tradtional political party, they think about it next time as well,” he said.

Mr Johnson said previous parliamentarians like John England and David Simmons represented the people, not just the party.

While related to Calare candidate Rod Bloomfield, Mr Johnson said he was not endorsing any particular candidate.

Mr Bloomfield himself said he only became aware of a grassroots campaign in Molong earlier this week.

Molong’s Marj Bollinger said the election was an opportunity to deliver feedback to politicians.

“People power is the only power we’ve got. They certainly felt it in the last election with CSG (coal seam gas) and if you look at those areas they’ve been left off the hook,” Mrs Bollinger said.

Mrs Bollinger is co-ordinator for Amalgamation No Thank You (ANTY) which is recommending voters put The Nationals last on Senate ballot papers.

"While there is understandable anger over amalgamations I think the people of Cabonne know who has been fighting for them,” The Nationals candidate for Calare Andrew Gee said.

“I've had a very warm response from the area during the campaign but we'll have to wait and see what impact it has federally."