NORTHERN Rivers Nationals MPs say failure to oppose gas production on the North Coast could mean The Nationals lose the region for a generation.
Southern and inland representatives, meanwhile, believe the party should not bow to a populist campaign of misinformation, fearing that a dangerous and expensive precedent could be set.
State leader Troy Grant believes there's room for both arguments, but it was clear from the annual NSW Nationals conference last Friday the party is fractured over the gas industry.
An urgency motion from Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis to oppose gas in the Northern Rivers descended into a sprawling, hour-long debate that was ultimately abandoned for fears that a vote would do more harm than good.
Anti-industry sentiment fuelled a swing against North Coast Nationals at the March state election - fatally so in Ballina - with representatives from Lismore, Tweed, Clarence, and the federal seat of Page predicting extinction if the region is not quarantined from the mining practice.
Unprecedented community concern was central to Mr Gulaptis' motion, who also urged the government to immediately acquire petroleum exploration licences owned by controversial gas developer Metgasco and sound out other licence holders about relinquishing their titles.
Mr Gulaptis was supported by Federal member for Page Kevin Hogan, North Coast-based Upper House MP Ben Franklin, a former state director of the party and vanquished Ballina candidate Kris Beavis.
Coal seam gas (CSG) would remain "an open wound" for the term of this state government if communities were ignored, Mr Gulaptis said.
"(Those against CSG) are not extremists," he said.
"Many of them have put their faith in The Nationals to deal with these sorts of issues in the past. But not this time. We failed to listen to them."
Opposition to Mr Gulaptis' motion took several forms.
Federal member for Parkes, Mark Coulton, offered his sympathy to North Coast members but said it was wrong to bow to the emotional reaction of protesters.
"If we succumb to the nimby ('not in my backyard') attitudes on the North Coast, what's next?" he said.
"'We don't want intensive agriculture? Piggeries are offensive?'"
State Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson, who has called for the black soil plains to be CSG-free, said the same rules must apply to every electorate.
"While we are seeing increased (gas development) activity on the North Coast, when that's done, where do you think they'll come?" Mr Anderson said.
"We will have the same level of angst and vitriol head inland if this motion is afforded to the Northern Rivers."
Mr Franklin said gas was a gateway issue that could lead to the party's doom in the north.
"The people of the Northern Rivers won't listen to us on any other issue unless they are convinced of our bona fides on this," Mr Franklin said.
"We got out of the last state election on the North Coast by the skin of our teeth.
"We need to get over this hurdle, because if we don't we could lose the seats on the Northern Rivers for a generation."
Ultimately, the debate proved anti-climactic after Lismore MP Thomas George - who scraped in at the March poll - argued that voting either way would prove damaging to the party.
Leader Troy Grant said the motion was not a signal of intent to ban gas development.
"The motion was to reflect the sentiment that is out there," Mr Grant said.
"There was no call to do anything above or beyond what we are already doing. We're not saying that we are putting a ban on CSG. I have never said those words."
