Nationals Hunter candidate James Thomson targets Joel Fitzgibbon over Labor split on energy

James Thomson, a 28-year-old community relations officer at Maitland Christian School, took aim at Labor's mixed responses to the recently announced Kurri Kurri gas-fired power station in a wide-ranging interview with the Newcastle Herald.

Mr Thomson said he supported the $600 million plant, despite concerns from some energy and climate analysts that it is unnecessary and will not cut power prices.

Mr Fitzgibbon and Paterson MP Meryl Swanson have also backed the plant, but other Labor figures have described it as "a load of nonsense". Mr Fitzgibbon says Labor's energy policies are alienating its blue-collar base.

"Unfortunately for Joel, he's part of the wrong party," Mr Thomson said.

"You talk about energy, it's almost as if the Labor party are ashamed of the energy and mining industry in the Hunter.

"I think there is that real challenge for the Labor Party. The jockey's not the problem; it's the horse."

Mr Thomson grew up in Narrabri and moved to Newcastle to study a double degree in law and business. He worked in a business development and marketing role at a law firm before Destination NSW appointed him as a community liaison officer for the Newcastle 500 Supercars race in 2017.

His wife, Claire, is a pre-school teacher and is due to have their second child in November.

The family lives in Cameron Park, on the eastern edge of the Hunter electorate.

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Mr Thomson describes himself as a "committed Christian" who attends the Goodlife Church.

The Nationals and Liberals largely kept their inexperienced candidates away from the media during the 2019 state and federal elections in the Hunter.

Nonetheless, little-known Nationals candidate Josh Angus came within three percentage points of knocking off Mr Fitzgibbon after gaining a swag of preferences from One Nation coalminer Stuart Bonds. The Liberals' low-profile candidates in Paterson and Shortland also achieved strong swings against Labor incumbents.

Mr Bonds has since split with One Nation over the party's support for industrial relations laws which could affect casual mine workers and is contemplating running as an independent or for the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.

Mr Fitzgibbon dismissed Mr Thomson's pre-selection this week as a sign the Nationals do not think they can win Hunter.

"They called for nominations, and only one person put their hand up. That shows their commitment to the electorate," he said.

But Mr Thomson's freedom to sit down with the Newcastle Herald this week, albeit with a party minder looking on, suggests the Nationals are taking the campaign more seriously than they did two years ago.

"I think it's a healthy thing that we can have a discussion about ideas, policies and also get to know the candidates," he said.

"When you vote for someone, you're voting for their party, but you're also buying into them as well."

He described the Nationals' win in the May 22 Upper Hunter by-election as a "really good endorsement" of the party, which held onto the seat despite a history of sitting governments performing poorly in by-elections.

He said he supported the coal sector and new manufacturing and renewables industries as well as improving infrastructure to make the region more attractive to families.

"I think jobs will be the big issue, and mining plays into that," he said.

If elected, Mr Thomson would be the youngest member of Parliament, in either house, by six years.

He said he had gained valuable insight into the community since daughter Mahlia was born 18 months ago and during his roles at the school and Supercars.

"The job of any representative is to represent all people," he said.

"My commitment to every single person in the Hunter is whether they're young all the way through to the elderly is I want to represent them and represent them well.

"I look at my daughter, and I want a future for her in the Hunter and all of our kids, and, I guess, not just any job but to land their dream job in the Hunter."

The Hunter electorate stretches from Cooranbong in the south, up the western side of Lake Macquarie and west to Muswellbrook.

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