Mr Thomas, of Kiah, was a first-time candidate, and it was the first time the Bega electorate had a Shooters, Farmers and Fishers Party representative on the ballot paper, so the result was significant.

"It was a really big win for us," Mr Thomas said, not just of his own result, but of the SFF results across NSW where the party appears to have claimed three lower house seats (Barwon, Murray and Orange).

The president of the Australian Conservation Hunters said he is usually the one helping to find others to be the right people to stand for election. This time it was his turn.

"Coming in at the 11^th hour with only two-and-a-half weeks to form policies, inform the various media and work out how to distribute brochures, it was a big effort - I'm stoked with the result.

"We're sick of the BS [of other parties], we're open and transparent.

"And we're more than 'Shooters'," he added, making reference to several personal insults and attacks levelled at him on social media. 

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While they fight for people's rights to legally own firearms, Mr Thomas said SFF wants an increase in penalties for anyone using a firearm in a crime.

"We want to see minimum mandatory sentencing for crimes involving firearms, and sentences served consecutively, not concurrently.

"We hate these people as much as anyone.

"The Liberals, Labor and the Greens have all tried to align us with what that lunatic did over in New Zealand.

"That's the lowest form of politics.

"We don't want semi-automatic weapons here - we want harsher penalties."

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Mr Thomas said the Bega result has "given me a platform now to bring facts home".

And much of what he wants to say is around environment and wildlife issues, not gun laws.

"We're the front line of conservation," he said.

"We cull native animals, if we have to and under permits. But we're more about reducing invasive species.

"We have a native animal extinction rate second to none.

"I'm 66 years old and I've been bringing up native animals  all my life - we were WIRES before WIRES.

"No-one loves this country and its animals more than me."

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Mr Thomas said the greatest threat we're facing on our doorstep right now is bushfire.

"We're going to lose lives unless something is done right now, and right across the region."

Mr Thomas said in his opinion E-zones needed to be removed and vegetation laws revisited to allow clearing around towns.

"They want to put a stop to Forestry, but the only way to save it is to get in there, thin it out, use those resources.

"Clear 50 to 100 metres around power lines and then that land can be leased to cattle farmers for example.

"Create fire breaks around towns and create town commons where communities can gather.

"There's a whole host of things you could do - they are all simple possibilities."