John Barilaro delivers powerful speech at The Nationals conference

In a speech to be delivered at The Nationals conference in Inverell today, Mr Barilaro said it was time for The Nationals to be more forthright in publicly stating its views if they were different from its Coalition partner.

"We will not apologise nor justify for choosing to live where we live," Mr Barilaro will say in his speech.

"We will not apologise that we will not allow our Coalition partners to trade off regional NSW to appease city moderates, lefties and the cross bench.

"We will not apologise for speaking out on issues that are important to the bush, even if it makes our Coalition partners feel uncomfortable."

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Mr Barilaro said it would not accept the 30 per cent rule that allowed treasury 'bean counters' to frame regional NSW through businesses cards and "tell us what is best for us".

"We will not apologise for fighting to protect our party from being pushed out of the Parliament because everyone decided to live in an apartment in Ryde," he will say.

"We will not apologise because we will build dams to future proof regional NSW and if a few frogs must go, so be it.

"We will not apologise for using every conceivable measure to protect our farmers and producers from vigilantes and thugs who want to destroy our meat and dairy industry and our way of life."

Mr Barilaro will add that The Nationals did not reach 100 years of age if it was not doing something right.

"We are a separate party. We have our own brand; our own identity; a rich history; traditions; values that we fight for and live by, most importantly communities that rely on us," he says in the speech.

"We must be respected. We must not be taken for granted and our coalition partners will need to work harder for our support."

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Peter Bailey from Foundation for Regional Development Limited said when you consider 80 per cent of NSW wealth comes from the regions that Mr Barilaro's speech "sounds like a fair proposition to make".

"If you are a business you put capital where it will give you the greatest return and that should be regional NSW," Mr Bailey told The Land.

NSW Farmers' president James Jackson said there was no doubt The Nationals had to define their brand as part of representing regional and rural NSW.

"The last election demonstrates the Coalition policies are very focused on city votes," Mr Jackson said.

Shooters Fishers Farmers leader Robert Borsak said Mr Barilaro's attack on the Liberal Party was a publicity stunt to distract people from regional NSWs decline under his watch.

"Under his watch, country towns have run out of water. NSW towns have been stripped from their hospitals," Mr Borsak said.

Mr Borsak said it was no use making speeches in the bush when you do nothing to stop the Liberals in NSW Parliament.

"It's because they're all talk and no action. That's why we won two seats off them at the last NSW state election," he said.