The SFF candidate for Dubbo Lara Quealy claims over the past six years to 30 June 2018, 18.5 per cent of payments to the Restart NSW Fund have gone to country areas when the Restart NSW Fund Act 2011 requires the state government to spend 30 per cent of money in the fund on rural infrastructure projects.

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Mr Saunders said regional NSW would receive the full 30 per cent of proceeds it deserves under the Restart NSW Fund Act 2011.

“It is worth noting the Shooters Party opposed this fund along with Labor, so it is hypocritical to oppose the fund with one breath and then demand faster payments from the fund with another,” he said.

“I have spoken to the Deputy Premier John Barilaro and to date funding for regional NSW through Restart amounts to $9.5 billion committed and reserved for our regions. There are currently 488 local and community infrastructure projects which have been allocated $1.15 billion in funding under Restart NSW since the first funding program was announced in 2012.”

Mr Saunders said the SFF has not taken into account projects that are funded but have not yet begun.

“The Auditor-Generals Office reports on a ‘snapshot’ of current payments made to councils and NGO’s to deliver projects, and does not take into account projects that have had funding reserved for future development,” he said.

“This means that regional NSW has funding set aside for when councils and NGO’s have the capacity to start construction.”

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But Mrs Quealy does not accept the Nationals’ explanation.

“It is clear, the National Party and the Liberals have short-changed rural New South Wales and places like Dubbo are getting ripped off,” she said.

“According to their own figures, over the last six years, they have only spent half as much on rural infrastructure than they are supposed to, while Sydney gets billion dollar stadiums and infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, Labor candidate for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence has welcomed Mrs Quealy to the election race.

"The Shooters candidate makes some good points and I welcome her to the election race,” he said.

“She will offer another choice to people looking for right-wing alternatives to the failed Nats.

“However it is Country Labor who the Nationals and Liberals truly fear. Only we can be the alternative voice for country NSW at the cabinet table. Only we can shake up the status quo and ensure we get all the benefits of being a true marginal seat.”