One candidate is considering legal action and two say they will consider running again, as reactions from the weekend's federal election continue to emerge.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NVI spoke to four of the unsuccessful candidates about their plans for the future, and their hopes and fears for the Parkes electorate under another reign of incumbent Nationals MP Mark Coulton.
Recently independent candidate David Paull, for one, said he was "seeking legal advice" after he says he was labelled a "conspiracy theorist" for comments he made online about the Port Arthur massacre.
"I'm hoping to have a chance to refute ... allegations made (in other media)," Mr Paull said.
Read also:
The comments resulted in him stepping down from the Greens party, and he does not intend to run as a candidate again in the future.
Meanwhile, United Australia Party candidate Petrus Van Der Steen and independent candidate Will Landers are keen to throw their hat in the ring for the next election.
Mr Landers said he would "definitely" run again.
"I will be spending more time over the next three to four years travelling all around the electorate ... so everyone knows who I am and what I stand for," Mr Landers said.
"[My] fears are that nothing will change and our electorate suffers more. I do hope [Mr Coulton will] listen and stand up for the people of Parkes, because it hasn't happened for the last 11 years."
Mr Van Der Steen said he was happy with his result and would be "back next time round to get it right for the people of Parkes".
For now it seems people voted for 'better the devil you know' than for policies that are bold but beneficial for regional Australia.
- United Australia Party candidate Petrus Van Der Steen
He said he held "high hopes that once the mindset changes ... [the electorate] might consider voting for real positive change".
"For now it seems people voted for 'better the devil you know' than for policies that are bold but beneficial for regional Australia," he said.
Liberal Democrats candidate Daniel Jones told the NVI he was "undecided" about re-running for the MP position, but his highlight from the election was coming third in the vote-count.
"It was my first election and I was surprised that I came third, although I realise that I had the advantage of the first position on the ballot," Mr Jones said.
The candidate said he had hoped Mr Coulton would seal Rangari Road.
"Hopefully, [he] will get Rangari Road surfaced to a good standard so the people are not complaining about potholes in 12 months' time."
Labor candidate Jack Ayoub did not respond to the NVI's questions before publication.