Centrebet has the Coalition a clear favourite, at $1.15, to win next year’s state election, compared to the Australian Labor Party at $5.

Centrebet media director Neil Evans said the Coalition was highly fancied to win from a long way out.

“Labor has been on the mat well and truly before the leadership change,” Mr Evans said.

People have wagered about $50,000 through Centrebet on the state election, including one $15,000 bet on the Coalition, three months ago at $1.19.

Centrebet’s figures come amid swings against Labor in the Tasmanian and South Australian elections on Saturday.

NSW Nationals leader and Oxley MP Andrew Stoner said he was not surprised at Centrebet’s early odds for the state election .

Mr Stoner said it was good news people were willing to put big bucks on a Coalition victory.

“We are not at all complacent which is why we are on the road for two weeks,” Mr Stoner said.

The NSW Nationals two-week regional tour is timed in Port Macquarie to coincide with the shadow cabinet meeting.

Mr Stoner said the visit was symbolic in that it was indicative of how the Coalition saw regional NSW, including the Mid-North Coast – at the top of the priority list.

The “shadow cabinet” meets in Port tomorrow, followed by one-on-one talks with community groups and individuals.

Meanwhile, Port Macquarie Country Labor Branch secretary Jeff Condron said Kristina Keneally had made an impact and would make an even greater impact in the lead up to the next election.

Mr Condron said the Country Labor parliamentary group was making sure the voice of the bush was heard by the premier and she was listening.

“I believe that the Labor Party is not a spent force in NSW and it will come back to lead again in 2011,” he said.