Nationals insist that coal is still king

Protecting local mining jobs and mental health are the top voter concerns in Joel Fitzgibbon’s electorate, finds Nationals polling.

National MPs Matt Canavan, left, Barnaby Joyce and David Gillespie at the entrance to the Mandalong Mine on Thursday. Picture: Adam Yip

Protecting local jobs in the mining sector and concerns over mental health trump climate change as the most important issues facing voters in Joel Fitzgibbon’s electorate of Hunter, according to federal Nationals polling.

Research compiled by pollster Leanne White, based on a survey of 800 voters in the Hunter last week, reveals that 49 per cent of Hunter locals are more likely to vote for a candidate who strongly supports coalmining.

As Nationals MPs continued their week-long blitz through the Hunter, the country party’s polling reveals support for mining jobs remains the most important issue in the 18-34 and 35-54 age groups.

Nationals MPs Matt Canavan, Barnaby Joyce and David Gillespie completed a two-day tour through the Hunter on Thursday, visiting the Mandalong coalmine and Vales Point coal-fired power station.

Senior Nationals sources said focus group research from across NSW shows Labor is struggling to regain support among the soft voter cohort in regional areas, who believe the party remains beholden to minority and radical left groups. Regional voters describe Anthony Albanese as “annoying” and “underwhelming”.

Mr Fitzgibbon, who suffered a 14.22 per cent swing against him at last year’s election after One Nation­ candidate Stuart Bonds recorded 22,029 votes, has called on Mr Albanese to shift Labor away from extreme climate change and emissions policies.

The 58-year-old veteran, who quit the opposition frontbench this month in protest over the direction of federal Labor under the Opposition Leader, believes Labor needs to toughen its language in support of the resources sector to claw back support in key regional seats ahead of the next election.

The Australian understands the Hunter polling has Mr Fitzgibbon in a similar position to last year’s election, where he secured a 37.57 per cent primary vote. A two-party-preferred vote, difficult to determine without clear candid­ates, sits at about 53-47 per cent in Mr Fitzgibbon’s favour.

Mr Fitzgibbon said there was “nothing surprising” about Labor’s stocks failing to improve in the seat since the nearly fatal swing in May last year.

 

“Sadly, Labor is yet to convince mining electorates it supports our coalminers and those who work in associated industries,” the party’s former resources spokesman said.

“I’ve been vocal but the message­ coming out of Canberra remains too ambiguous.

“The punters aren’t silly. The polling won’t change until our collective­ support for those who wear the hi-vis is loud and clear.”

Senator Canavan, Mr Joyce and Dr Gillespie are pushing for the Morrison government to back a new coal-fired power station in the region.

Senator Canavan said people in the electorate were “sick of being taken for granted by the Labor Party”.

“They want a choice,’' he said. “They want an alternative. They have been buying the Labor produc­t for generations and, while it served them well for a little while, it has kind of passed its warrant­y date.

“They are open-minded about other possibilities.”

Mr Joyce said Labor and the Liberal Party were walking away from the coal industry.

“Labor is drunk on the (anti-coal) Kool-Aid and the Libs are getting addicted to it,” he said.

Senior federal and state Nationals­ MPs, including Michael McCormack, Bridget McKenzie, Keith Pitt, Perin Davey, Paul Toole and Michael Johnsen, have travelled to the Hunter in the past week.

The Liberals are also eyeing off seats in the Hunter, including Paterso­n and Shortland. Liberal Party veteran Bob Baldwin held Paterson for 17 years until his retiremen­t at the 2016 election.

Labor Left-faction MP Pat Conroy, a close ally of Mr Alban­ese, suffered a 10 per cent swing against him in Shortland at last year’s election.