'No real prospect': NSW Liberal leader all but concedes defeat in Hunter

The NSW Liberal Party leader has all but conceded defeat in the Hunter at the coming election in a frank interview about its chances in the region.

Speaking to ABC Radio Newcastle on Tuesday morning, NSW Liberal Party leader Kellie Sloane was not optimistic about the party's chances in the Hunter.

When asked if she wanted the party to be a force in the Hunter in the next election, she said the party always ran candidates in every region, but acknowledged "realistically, I don't imagine the next election it's a real prospect of winning, but that doesn't stop me coming".

She said that while she had travelled to the Hunter and Upper Hunter in her official capacity as party leader, she had not yet been to the state's second-largest city on official business.

Ms Sloane had "been very focused on regional NSW" and wanted to be a premier "for everyone not just for Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong".

"We'll probably announce more in regional NSW and I appreciate that Newcastle is technically part of Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong, but a lot of our infrastructure announcements, our biosecurity announcements have been for regional NSW as well as those outer Sydney cities," she said.

Despite her stated focus on regional NSW, Ms Sloane said she did not have a strategy for the seat of Cessnock, where One Nation had made inroads leading into the election period.

"I don't have any strategy for Cessnock," she said.

"I don't think the Liberals are a chance of winning Cessnock, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to have policies.

"I haven't even considered it. Clayton Barr is a great Labor member in that area."

She ruled out making a preference deal with One Nation in the region.

"We've got maybe two One Nation candidates announced so far, and a leader that we don't know what we're dealing with in NSW," she said.

"I do not underestimate them as a force in the election. I think if we're not listening to the messages people are sending us, we're crazy.

"I haven't met Mike Newman yet, but I'm not interested in doing deals."

Newcastle Liberal councillors Callum Pull and Jenny Barrie said local party members had their leader's support and they were confident the party could contest in the region.

"Kellie has been an incredibly supportive leader, who has always been willing to provide support, advice and a friendly ear on any issues facing Newcastle and the Hunter that I've raised with her," Cr Pull said.

"I know our local Liberals will continue to fight hard every day to win the trust and support of the Hunter region."

Even with her dampened expectations for lower house election prospects in the Hunter, Ms Sloane said voters who wanted a change in government should vote Liberal, not One Nation.

"If people want to turf out a bad state Labor government, they're going to have to vote Liberals or Nationals," she said.

"One Nation is not, we have to be realistic, given they have zero seats in Parliament at the moment, they are not going to win government.

"I want people to vote one for the Liberals and Nationals in NSW, and I am focused on delivering the policies which give them a reason to, including cuts to payroll tax, tough crime legislation and our regional infrastructure guarantee."