Dubbo residents will be in the driver's seat when they get the chance to question state election candidates at a forum on Wednesday.
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Of the seven candidates vying for votes in the Dubbo electorate, six will be in attendance on Wednesday: the Nationals Party's Troy Grant, Country Labor's Stephen Lawrence, the Greens' Matt Parmeter, Christian Democratic Party's Peter Scherer and independents Rod Pryor and Colin Hamilton.
Dubbo MP and Deputy Premier Troy Grant welcomed the chance to appear, but said he wasn't expecting any surprises from the other candidates or members of the audience.
"I've spent the last four and a half years talking to the community," Mr Grant said.
"I look forward to the opportunity to rebut the misinformation that's out there on a number of issues."
Country Labor candidate Stephen Lawrence has been helping to organise the forum and said he welcomed the chance to face the community.
"I think it's really important that people in the electorate have the opportunity in a public forum to ask any question they want of their candidates and assess all of the candidates at the same time," he said.
"There is far too much highly prepared advertising and slogans in modern politics and it comes at the expense of the substance so it's really important that people have the opportunity to see us in the flesh."
Greens candidate Matt Parmeter said the Greens had some strong policies, in particular around coal seam gas and supporting renewable energy, and he would present those at the forum.
"Having been a candidate previously, I think it's very important for the public to come along and compare the candidates side by side," he said.
"We want the public to be able to question the candidates and hear first hand from their candidates what future they see for Dubbo, for our electorate and for our region."
"Discussion between the candidates can highlight their differences and give the public a good opportunity to select who they prefer."
Christian Demorat's representative Peter Scherer said he anticipated he would be there and independents Rod Pryor and Colin Hamilton also confirmed their attendance.
"I think it will be good for anyone who attends to hear from the candidates," Mr Hamilton said.
"It's a shame it didn't happen a couple of weeks ago before pre-polling started."
No Land Tax candidate Ben Shepherd would not be attending, according to Mr Lawrence.
The candidates forum will be officiated by Bob Berry, and will take place at Dubbo RSL Club on Wednesday, March 25 from 6pm.
