NSW key seats: week one

WHAT HAPPENED IN NSW KEY SEATS IN WEEK ONE:

GRAYNDLER

Greens leader Richard Di Natale kicked off his campaign by sipping lattes in Sydney's inner west with the party's Grayndler candidate Jim Casey, who is hoping to snag the seat from long-time local Labor MP Anthony Albanese. Although Albo safely holds the seat with a near 19 per cent margin, in recent years there's been an increased vote for the Greens.

LINDSAY

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull caught the train to western Sydney on Wednesday to support Fiona Scott in her fight to keep the crucial seat. Tension rose when Ms Scott refused to reveal who she backed in last year's Liberal leadership spill and then a post-press conference street walk in Penrith with Turnbull was cancelled. It was a bad move according to ex-PM Tony Abbott's former chief of staff Peta Credlin, who dubbed Turnbull "Mr Habourside Mansion."

REID

Both leaders showed up in the marginal Liberal seat of Reid. Mr Shorten was there to spruik education in his only non-Queensland electorate visit of the week. Mr Turnbull showed up on Saturday to do a streetwalk in Homebush.

EDEN-MONARO

Deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop headed to the bellwether seat in southern NSW to spruik free-trade deals and support Liberal incumbent Peter Hendy; however a leaked email has suggested some conservative ACT Liberals wouldn't back Dr Hendy as revenge for his role in toppling Tony Abbott as prime minister.

NEW ENGLAND

Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce insists he had nothing to do with the NSW government's decision not to merge Walcha and Tamworth local councils in his New England seat, saying it's the community and councillors who deserve credit. Mr Joyce is being challenged by returning independent Tony Windsor, who held the rural seat for 12 years and this week said many voters are looking for an alternative to the major parties.