Mr Joyce said a vote for the Shooters, Farmers and Fishers is a vote for Labor – a party he said puts “frogs” and “newts” ahead of regional infrastructure. 

The Shooters fired back by questioning why so many senior government politicians were now visiting the MIA, claiming the Nationals had previously neglected the region for two decades. 

Mr Joyce said, “If you want a Coalition in government, if you want people who are going to stand up for the people of Griffith, vote for him [Austin]… then there’s a whole range of other parties you can vote for if you want the Labor party in”. 

Mr Joyce highlighted Nationals funding commitments for roads, telecommunications and inland rail as reasons to vote for Mr Evans.

When asked why the federal government’s inland rail project from Melbourne to Brisbane – aimed at helping farmers get produce to ports quicker – isn’t going through the MIA food bowl, he said:

“If you vote for the Labor Party, you won’t get inland rail [at all]… they’ll find frogs, they’ll find newts, they’ll find other things to spend the money on in the city”.  

Mr Evans also said the Shooters had done a preference deal with Labor. 

Shooters Fishers and Farmers member for Orange Phil Donato said in response, “we’re putting the Nationals last because that’s where they’ve put this community for the past two decades”. 

The Shooters have put Labor at number 4 on their how to vote cards, one ahead of the Nationals at number 5, while the Nationals have not directed preferences either way. 

Shooters candidate for Murray Helen Dalton questioned why so many senior government figures were now coming to the Murray electorate. 

“The premier was in Deniliquin yesterday… a premier has never visited that town for 33 years, it’s disgraceful, they’re only turning up now,” Ms Dalton said.