The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party will preference independents ahead of Labor and the National Party in the Upper Hunter byelection in a move designed to maximise their chances of snatching the seat from the National Party.
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Shooters state director Filip Despotoski said the party would announce on Friday how it would recommend voters direct their preferences but confirmed the major parties would not feature at the top of their list.
He also gave little away regarding whether it would put Labor ahead of the Nationals.
It comes after former One Nation star candidate Stuart Bonds formally endorsed Shooters' candidate Sue Gilroy on Tuesday.
"I think Sue has a good chance of winning; it's a Melbourne Cup field. Preferences are going to come into play but I think the Shooters can get there," Mr Bonds, who spectacularly parted ways with One Nation following a fall-out over the party's support for the federal government's industrial relations bill, said.
"I have no idea (how many votes my endorsement is worth) but it would have to be worth a few percent."
Mr Bonds said he was not concerned about whether the Shooters preferenced Labor ahead of the Nationals.
"It's neither here nor there. At the end of the day it's a recommendation. The main thing is people consider their choices carefully," he said.
Mr Bonds said he would now focus his energy on running for the seat of Hunter in the next federal election, which he almost claimed in the last election.
"I believe (if I ran in the byelection) it would split the vote; a lot of the issues the Shooters are bringing up I would have voted for anyway," he said
"I will focus my attention back on taking the seat of Hunter from Fitzgibbon. That is still my primary focus."
Ms Gilroy welcomed Mr Bond's endorsement.
"I respect Stuart and where he has stood in the past. I have followed his campaigns. It certainly could (help) but the preferences come down to the individual."
IN NEWS TODAY:
The Shooters will also introduce legislation into parliament that will require new mining projects to employ at 75 per cent of their workforce on a full-time basis.
"We need flexibility and 25 per cent gives us that. From the people that we have talked to and the information we have gained 75 per cent is a figure that we have landed on," Ms Gilroy said.
The proposed bill would also result in changes to workers compensation for casual workers by ensuring they are compensated on the same basis as full-time employees.
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