Mr McNamara said the future for jobs and prosperity for the Upper Hunter would be achieved through more coal - either through a new coal fired powered station or developing new mines.

"If we don't have coal these paddocks where we stand today in the Maison Dieu Industrial area near Singleton will be empty like they were when I was a boy and went ferreting in them," he said.

Mr McNamara made only passing mention of 'non-coal' areas of the electorate saying they need better roads and sporting facilities.

But basically it was all about the growth of coal and the need for more of the $1.1. billion a year in mining royalties that come from Singleton and Muswellbrook Local Government Areas being returned to the region to build the Singleton bypass, upgrade Muswellbrook Hospital and build better sporting facilities.

Mr McNamara, who now owns a farm at Lower Belford, a number of local hotels, commercial real estate in Singleton and the recently purchased Miller Park Recreation Club in Branxton said he had worked in the coal industry for a number of years and his association in the industry had been financially rewarding.

"Coal is my life.... I know that Singleton and the Hunter Valley cannot survive if we haven't got coal. And these guys are pulling the wool over our eyes. I think the people of the Upper Hunter have had a gutful," he said.

Launching his candidacy was Mark Latham. When asked about Upper Hunter air quality, Mr Latham said asthma was not as bad there as other regions and people 'cherry-pick' figures to suit their agenda.

On the threat of tariffs on our agricultural products if we fail to address climate change Mr Latham said they would be illegal and Australia could go to the World Trade Organisation.