About 80 people assembled at the Coonamble Golf Course on Sunday and pledged to vote against the Nationals at the NSW Election on March 28.
Independent candidate for Barwon Rohan Boehm was the centre of proceedings, which saw farmers, business people and townspeople assemble to vice their grievances.
Mark Robinson, a local farmer and Young National from the age of 17, said the Nationals had abandoned rural communities.
“My grandfather was a Federal member for the Country Party, and I was a member of the Young Nationals from the age of 17. Knowing my grandfather, he would be spinning in his grave knowing that his beloved country party has turned on rural people.
“The problem with the National Party is not just that they’ve turned their back on us.”
Coonamble farmer Brian Hannigan said up until now he had followed in the conservative footsteps of his grandparents and parents, but would switch his vote to his independent candidate.
“It takes a lot to make country people like us speak out against the party they've always been loyal to,” he said. “But I don’t feel that the Nationals are representing us any more.”
Two weeks ago The Land published a resignation letter from another disaffected Nationals member, former president of the Coonamble branch and grazier Tom Lyon.
“I have resigned from the National party who no longer represent me, or my values," said Mr Lyon - who did not attend the meeting.
"It is a heavy and considered decision to change one’s political allegiance at this stage of life, however, I take this action to draw attention to the frustration of many in the regional areas.”
Mr Boehm told the group the “Nationals are no longer relevant to rural communities".
