When it comes to federal politics, she says people in Taroom feel a sense of disconnect. She understands the appeal of minority parties.

“I think they feel [politicians] are forgetting about the country people and more just worrying about what city people want.”

That seemed to be a common sentiment from many of the people interviewed in this story.

While electorates are created to reflect population density (as I understand it) there is undoubtedly an advantage for politicians in targeting and swaying dense urban centres.

Things are changing and across the coal seats of Flynn, Capricornia and Dawson, where two popular coalition MPs are retiring. Two of the three Labor candidates work in the coal industry.

Then there are the potent additions of Pauline Hanson and Clive Palmer to the mix at the next federal election. Coal, and the jobs it creates, will once again be a key concern of the campaign cycle.

The upcoming Federal election continues to look interesting. Minor parties are gaining in popularity after many years under the Coalition and Labor looks like it will have an issue presenting a unified message.