Joyce sings the praises of volunteers as election goes down to the wire

Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce might be urging his electorate not to vote for the ALP, independents and the Greens, but that doesn't mean he doesn't recognise a hard worker when he sees one.

Deputy Premier Barnaby Joyce pauses to congratulate a Greens volunteer in Tamworth ahead of the July 2 election Source: Supplied

 

As the battle for New England enters its final hours, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has reached across the political divide to compliment his rivals.

In a brief pit stop during a campaign that has been branded as 'polarising', Mr Joyce paused to congratulate a Greens volunteer at a pre-polling station in Tamworth.

"She's been here every day ... incredible," Mr Joyce said.

"I don't think she's voting for me, and I'm not voting for her, but I have to say she's been giving absolutely 100%."

Popped in to Tamworth prepoll. #ausvotes #auspol Posted by Barnaby Joyce Member for New England on Thursday, 30 June 2016

"Thank you, Barnaby," the Greens volunteer replied.

"Will you be voting for Barnaby?" a voice off-screen asks.

"No, I won't," she answered to laughter.

As the July 2 polling day looms, politicking in the regional seat has been marred by allegations of "gutter journalism", sexism and making light of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mr Windsor, who supported Julia Gillard's minority government in 2010, told Sky News he would never say never to another tilt at the seat if he was defeated on Saturday.

"Some of these issues are very dear to my heart. I want to live and die in this electorate," he said.