Mr Pennells, the acting captain of Bathurst Fire Station, has had two battles with prostate cancer that he believes was caused by his firefighting work.

So when the NSW Coalition passed legislation last year that provided workers' compensation benefits to firefighters diagnosed with one of 12 specified cancers, but only from September 27, 2018 onward, Mr Pennells said he could not believe it.

"I formally resigned [as a Nationals member] about three months ago," he said at a press conference on Tuesday at Bathurst Fire Station with Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Orange MP Phil Donato and the party's Bathurst candidate, Brenden May.

"I supported Paul Toole and his father [Trevor Toole, who ran for state and federal parliament] in many, many elections, but I cannot do that again while they [the NSW Coalition] are not supporting us."

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The NSW Coalition had the chance to support an Opposition bill to provide workers' compensation benefits for firefighters diagnosed with certain cancers, but chose to introduce its own legislation instead that had the September 27, 2018 cut-off.

Mr Donato and Mr May say it will leave many firefighters, including Mr Pennells, unable to access the help they deserve.

Mr Pennells, who has been a firefighter for almost 40 years, said he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005, had a prostatectomy and got a "reasonable result".

"Five years to the day, in 2010, it came back," he said.

Radiation treatment at Orange "knocked" down Mr Pennells' PSA (used to diagnose and monitor prostate cancer), but it has since been going up.

Mr Pennells said he was not personally seeking compensation, but wanted his costs - which he estimated to be $100,000, including "many trips" to Sydney - to be reimbursed.

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In terms of the link between his cancer and his firefighting, Mr Pennells said his family history did not provide an alternative cause.

"My brother does not have prostate cancer, my father did not have it. From the best records, my grandfathers did not have it. There's no hereditary line. So what have I done differently to my father and brother?"

Further, Mr Pennells said he knew of five current firefighters who worked at the old Bathurst Fire Station in the CBD who now have cancer.

Mr Donato and Mr May said they would make forcing a change to the legislation and its cut-off date a priority if they are re-elected and elected, respectively.

MEMBER for Bathurst Paul Toole says he is well aware of local firefighters' important role, but says the workers' compensation legislation introduced to assist them had to have a start date.

"There's no doubt our firies do an amazing job in our local community protecting property and saving people's lives," Mr Toole said.

"The presumptive [workers' compensation] legislation was introduced last year as a package to support our firies, both those with Fire and Rescue NSW and the RFS.

"With any legislation, there is a commencement date for the start of the scheme, and this is consistent with legislation that is introduced by other states and the Commonwealth.

"What I'll continue to do is raise these concerns from individuals so that if things need to be reviewed into the future, then we can do so."