BARNABY Joyce barnstormed back into power last weekend with 55 per cent of number one votes in New England. But the battle booth-by-booth portrays an interesting picture of politics in the city of Tamworth and surrounding towns as support was not as forthcoming in some areas.
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However the polling booths in the Walcha region indicate overwhelming support.
Mr Joyce drew some ire on social media during his campaign after he posted a photo of a corflute sign he had nailed to a tree near Weabonga.
Others may get the cardigans but I will get the hillbillies
- Barnaby Joyce
"Others may get the cardigans but I will get the hillbillies," he wrote in the photo caption.
It mattered little with Mr Joyce snaring 90 per cent of the 63 votes made at the nearby Niangala polling booth.
The incumbent claimed stronger majorities in the smaller rural townships like Walcha (79 per cent), Guyra (66 per cent) and Tenterfield (63 per cent).
As well as those townships the results from village polling booths across the Walcha Shire show a clear preference for Mr Joyce: Nowendoc (85 per cent ), Woolbrook (77 per cent) and Yarrowitch (80 per cent).
Mr Joyce issued a public letter on Monday acknowledging the support of the villages.
"To all the people in Scone and Aberdeen right up north to Liston and Tenterfield, to Inverell and Ashford and Walcha, and smaller centres like Nowendoc and Niangala and of course our big towns like the country music capital, Tamworth and the city of Armidale, this result is something that says to me I'm going to continue working as hard as I can on your behalf to respect the incredible honour that you have placed in me.
"I'm so proud of my team, the National Party and what we achieved for rural and regional Australia and we will keep working to look after your interests."
I think Barnaby Joyce, in history, will have one of the worst rap sheets of any member of parliament
- Adam Blakester
Mr Joyce declared victory in the 2019 federal election about two hours after polls closed with 53 per cent of the primary vote, lengths ahead of independent candidate Adam Blakester's 15 per cent.
"I congratulate Barnaby Joyce and thank him for running a very respectful campaign, it's something I, and all of us in my camp, have appreciated," Mr Blakester said.
"The part I'm most proud of is I believe we created a respectful and meaningful set of conversations around the electorate."
But Mr Blakester said the result raised a number of questions about the electorate's priorities, because his platform was very distinct from Mr Joyce's.
"What does it mean for addressing climate change?," he said.
"What does it mean for integrity in governance?
"I think Barnaby Joyce, in history, will have one of the worst rap sheets of any member of parliament. And to get such a strong primary vote, that is befuddling for me.It's really befuddling, but I think it's a superficial support rather than a support based on substance."
