I would like to respond to Calare MP Andrew Gee's claim that "candidates were not given sufficient notice".

Mr Gee is the only candidate who is raising concern as to how much notice he had. The other candidates all had the same notice and all those who present as actively campaigning arranged themselves to attend.

Simply there was no forum being arranged in the evening for the residents of Bathurst to have the opportunity to hear from and ask the candidates questions, questions which for most answers are sought from multiple candidates.

How much notice do you want Mr Gee? Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the Federal Election on April 10.

A week later was Easter and the following week was crowded with public holidays, including Anzac Day. There was a decision not to "campaign" during this period.

Watching the local news and conversations with community members raised that that there was no evening forum being arranged.

The Bathurst Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association forum, while excellent, is for the retired. It is for their membership and is held in the mid-morning when most are at work. And only two candidates turned up (which was not fault of the CPSA).

It is worth noting the candidates did not step up and arrange themselves a forum. Mr Gee could have easily arranged (or challenged) his fellow condensers to a debate or forum. He did not.

Nor did any other community group or organisation step up to arrange a forum, perhaps representative of our general disengagement with politics. It is a great pity.

Organising an "independent" forum is not easy and I was simply being community-minded to ensure that, regardless of how many were interested in attending such an event, at least the community had the opportunity to help themselves make an informed decision at the ballot box.

How much notice does Mr Gee want? I stepped up and contacted candidates early last week. This included calls to Mr Gee's office. Those calls were supported by emails.

Yes, Mr Gee, if a forum was to be organised it had to be done quickly. Four of the seven candidates contacted me promptly and discussed arrangements and proposed dates. Mr Gee did not.

Mr Gee had the opportunity to be involved in this conversation and it would have been peferable if he was involved. It was to the benefit of the community that he attend.

It was clear that all of the candidates I spoke to were of the view, because of the extent of pre-polling and other commitments, that it was not beneficial to hold a forum in the last week of the campaign. Dates were proposed.

It is to the credit of a couple of the candidates that they raised with me that no forum was being organised in Orange. On the same basis as ensuring Bathurst had the chance, I agreed to organise one for Orange.

Still not having heard from Mr Gee I took the opportunity to approach him at the CPSA forum. He presented as being unaware of my earlier contact with his office. I am not sure what else I was able to do.

Yes, by Thursday dates had been set. They had to be. It was then not until late Tuesday afternoon this week that I first heard from his office and that was to withdraw.

Nearly 24 hours later in a second email he withdrew from the Orange forum, again citing "other commitments".

Of course, Mr Gee had the option of to reorganising his calendar and attend. After all, the forum was being arranged for his and his fellow candidates' benefit.

I am pleased to have given you the opportunity, Mr Gee.

Thank you would suffice.