Member for Orange Philip Donato and his party colleague Robert Borsak said Mr Grant was wrong in saying that the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party had opposed the Restart NSW Fund, and also that the state government spent the mandated 30 per cent funds on infrastructure in regional areas.

“Mr Grant is trying to sell the government with his best lies,” Mr Donato alleged.

“Mr Grant and the National Party are misleading people, especially those in regional areas.

“The Auditor General’s report is completely independent and it clearly states that regional NSW is not getting 30 per cent of the Restart NSW Fund.”

Fairfax Media approached Mr Grant for his response, but his office said he had no comment to make on these allegations.

On Friday, the Central Western Daily reported a war of words between Mr Grant and Mr Donato over spending of the Restart NSW Fund in regional areas.

The debate began after NSW Labor leader Michael Daley cited the Auditor General’s report in NSW Parliament saying the state government spent only 17 per cent of funds in 2017-18, 14 per cent in 2016-17, 10 per cent in 2015-16 and 25 per cent in 2014-15 from the Restart NSW fund in regional areas.

Mr Grant, who will retire from politics at the 2019 state election, defended his government’s position and said the NSW government was honouring its funding commitment with ongoing and unprecedented investment in regional areas.

“This fund was opposed by the NSW Labor Party and the Shooters Party, so it is hypocritical to oppose the fund with one breath and then demand faster payments from the fund with another,” Mr Grant said.

Mr Borsak, a member of the NSW Legislative Council, hit back saying the Hansard record showed that the Restart NSW Bill was passed unanimously.

He said the Nationals were bereft of ideas and running scared.

“They are of course claiming credit for the concept and of the idea and the commitment,” Mr Borsak said.

“As always, Nationals are lying again. They will say anything to try and save their political skins.”