“I said I am not convinced because there is alternate information,” she said, adding that she feared action on climate change would cost regional NSW jobs, and that her priority was to provide local infrastructure.

Asked if she was concerned about increased flooding, drought and fire in the region exacerbated by climate change, a spokesman for Pinson said that, when she campaigned in the region, residents were more concerned about saving the breakwall at Town Beach, which is threatened by plans to build a bike track, and addressing congestion in the rapidly expanding regional city.

The seat was won in 2011 by the National Party’s Leslie Williams who held it at the subsequent two elections, but she defected to the Liberals during the so-called koala wars, when former Nationals leader John Barilaro threatened to split the Coalition over Liberal efforts to increase habitat protections on private land.

At the forum at Laurieton, south of Port Macquarie, Williams agreed with Labor candidate Keith McMullen, who argued that it was important for all levels of government to join the effort to accelerate decarbonisation.

“I think it is incumbent on all levels of government and all leaders to do what we can to address climate change,” she said.

Greens candidate Stuart Watson said he believed climate change to be the greatest existential threat to the world.

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