Speaking from Canberra on Thursday, the Minister for Small Business said voters would be able to separate state and federal issues despite swings of up to 20 per cent across the Murray and Cootamundra by-elections.

“I think people are reasonably discerning and can differ between state and federal politics,” Mr McCormack said.

“We’ve picked up new territory on the federal scale and I believe we’ve delivered across the area.” 

The Member for Riverina paid tribute to Steph Cooke (Cootamundra) and Austin Evans (Murray) for their successful campaigns, taking a pot shot at the vocal Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party in the process.

“At the end of the day, our state candidates won and I think they’ll make fine representatives,” he said.

“Generally, there is a significant swing against a major party candidate but I’m sure in time -  and not a long time - people will realise that majority of voters made a sensible decision.

“After all, what are parties like the Shooters going to provide for these communities?”

Despite having been dusted up in a political football fixture yesterday, Mr McCormack was upbeat about his National Party’s prospects.

“People have been writing off the Nats since we first formed but if people take a look at what they’re going to get with parties like Country Labor and Shooters, they’ll realise we’re the ones delivering.”