THERE may only be one day to go until the NSW Election, nevertheless Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen still proved to have the energy to call out his opponents.
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He did just that while campaigning in Singleton on Friday, calling Hunter MP Joel Fitzgibbon a "hypocrite" just moments after hosting a press conference with the Federal Minister for Resources, Matt Canavan, in town.
"It's very hypocritical of Joel [Fitzgibbon] and Labor to have a go at me about bringing up federal issues," Mr Johnsen stated.
The declaration came just after Labor stated the sitting state member was facing a probe by the NSW Electoral Commission for sending out illegal and misleading letters to voters.
"Joel Fitzgibbon, the former Country Labor candidate and the current one in the seat of Upper Hunter are the ones who made the casualisation of the coal miners (and employment) from a federal issue to a state issue," Mr Johnsen said.
"It's nothing but hypocrisy and it shows a complete and utter desperation of both state and federal Labor here in the Upper Hunter electorate."
When asked about his loyalty to local coal miners throughout his first term, one which saw the infamous winter of discontent in 2017, the Upper Hunter MP refused to entertain his opposing candidates' comments.
"As Matt Canavan said, I've been in constant talk with him in his role and it is a federal issue," Mr Johnsen continued.
"But, that doesn't mean that I haven't been expressing concern on behalf of our local workers.
"That is demonstrated by the fact that the Nationals have got federal legislation on the floor of the house and it's had its second reading.
"All Labor has to do is vote for this.
"And, the best thing that the CFMEU can do now is encourage the Labor members to actually vote for this because this problem is a problem which can be fixed very quickly in the last week of federal parliament."
Mr Canavan will remain in Singleton on Friday night and early Saturday morning to help aid Mr Johnsen's campaign.
However, the Upper Hunter MP is confident he will hold the seat on account of his commitment to the electorate since gaining office on March 28, 2015.
"When you go into the polling booth tomorrow [Saturday] make a decision on who actually represents you, who listens to you, who understands and who actually delivers," Mr Johnsen added.
"I'm happy to put my name on the ballot paper on the basis of what I've been able to do for the Upper Hunter electorate in Singleton.
"I secured a total of $851 million of new capital money from the state government in my first four years; that doesn't just happen, you make it happen.
"I'm not about getting out there to present and play puppies with those in the community and the media; what I am about is rolling up my sleeves and making sure that I'm getting things done and getting things delivered."
Mr Johnsen believes his proudest achievements for the Singleton area range from the Singleton Hospital upgrade, the start of the "hole in the wall" development right down to the resurfacing of the netball courts.
"It's fair to say when people look around they can see a lot of work that has been done and continues to be done and we want that opportunity to continue that work for the Upper Hunter," he explained.
"The bypass is actually happening, there's another achievement.
"In June 2017 we announced the preferred route and, in November 2017, we gave the contract to AECOM to do the concept design and EIS.
"At the moment there are LEP changes happening, there are property negotiations and purchases happening and these are all the things that are happening before we can get the bulldozers out.
"I want people to make their decision of their substance and delivery."
