New England fight between Joyce, Windsor

Despite considering himself to be the underdog, Barnaby Joyce has shown his teeth in the fight to keep his job in New England.

The deputy prime minister and Tony Windsor, his rival for the NSW seat, faced a showdown in a televised debate in Tamworth on Thursday night.

And while there was plenty of support for the former independent MP, who held the seat for over a decade, it was Mr Joyce who led the debate.

He attacked Mr Windsor for supporting the minority Gillard government and remaining idle on the controversial Shenhua mine when elected, while pushing his own local credentials and achievements over the past three years.

Mr Joyce said he'd do everything to ensure the Watermark coal mine near Gunnedah - which no longer exists in the electorate - and the BHP Caroona mine don't go ahead.

But his biggest attack line was in his job title.

To have the deputy prime minister's office in the electorate for the first time was vitally important.

"If you want to get anywhere in politics you have to influence the person who holds the chequebook," he said, stressing his daily access to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

All MPs sought to influence cabinet ministers but it was better to be one, he said.

Mr Windsor said the Nationals leader would not be able to fight for electorate as a free, independent agent.

He lamented that his former electorate had lost its fight, and very little had been achieved in the last three years.

Mr Joyce was only now remembering the electorate because of the challenge to his seat, Mr Windsor said, vowing to stand on his record to show he could effect change.

When questioned about who he'd side with in a future hung parliament, he said there'd be no need to pick sides and he'd remain independent.