Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce identified the two issues in commentary on the impact of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party on the State election reported in the Sydney Morning Herald.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Dr Gillespie cautioned against overplaying the threat posed by the Shooters, but supported Mr Joyce in backing a government-backed coal-fired power plant and changes to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan.

"Irrigators get blamed for everything but they're not the cause of the drought," he said.

"The biggest holder of water is the government Environmental Water Holder. It would make sense if some of that environmental water was put into keeping farmers producing food."

Dr Gillespie said the Shooters party was "a significant player at the State level", but it was not clear its success would translate to the federal arena.

In the recent State election for the seat of Myall Lakes, Shooters party candidate Heather Elliot did not pose any threat to Nationals candidate, Stephen Bromhead. First preference votes counted as at March 27 at 10.04am reveal Mr Bromhead secured 22,811 votes with Mrs Elliott securing 3078 votes, polling behind Country Labor candidate, Dr David Keegan with 13,415 votes and Independent candidate, Paul Sandilands with 3848 votes.

The Shooters are looking to field candidates in the federal NSW seats of Parkes, Calare, New England and Riverina, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. No announcement has been made by the Shooters as to whether Mrs Elliot will stand for election in the seat of Lyne.

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