Last Wednesday evening several of my friends and I had a robocall from the National Party, asking who would we support in the electorate of Goulburn, then who would we give our preferences to.

Interesting names were tested -  Fiona Nash, Katrina Hodkginson, Geoff Kettle, Niall Blair, Pru Goward and Ursula Stephens. 

It was obviously a robocall because the voice couldn’t even pronounce Stephens, but I signalled an intention to use our votes to see the back of the current local member, Pru Goward, whoever the opponent.

I was disappointed not to be able to make a comment - but perhaps it was better that I didn’t, the comments would be unprintable. 

Lo and behold, other friends reported they too had been called - but this time there were also questions about leadership. 

The main question was “Who do you think is better placed to lead the NSW Government — Gladys Berijeklian or Luke Foley?”

Unfortunately for Gladys, my friends had been caught up in the 9km traffic jam on the M5 and had just returned home after a very long, frustrating day.

They live in Burradoo so they were asked questions about the seat of Wollondilly, which is being vacated by Liberal MP Jai Rowell. The names floated included Penny Fischer, Nathaniel Smith, Pat Farmer, and Judy Hannan. Nathanial Smith is the son of former Attorney General Greg Smith, while Penny Fischer is Pru Goward’s daughter.

Greg Smith, former Member for Epping, pipped Pru Goward in the preselection in 2007, which caused her to be parachuted into the electorate of Goulburn, vacated by Peta Seaton, who went on the become the Head of the Cabinet Office in NSW. 

The buzz around Bowral this week is that Greg Smith has secured the numbers for his son, Nat Smith, a plumber turned political lobbyist and former Kogarah Councillor, leaving Penny Fischer, a teacher and former Camden Councillor, who has already indicated she is moving to Bowral, very disappointed.

So why the sudden flurry from the Nationals?

The only way the Nationals can have a shot at the seat of Goulburn is if Pru Goward steps down to hand the seat to her daughter. But, surely, that would create a three-way contest with the Nationals…suddenly things become much clearer and much more interesting. 

In the next election even dyed-in-the-wool coalition supporters are considering the shocking record of this government on: unwanted stadia, crazy transport bungles, costly energy and especially their woeful environmental record. 

It is a critical decision which will be made and which must be made without traditional party loyalties. It is that important.