In October last year representatives of one of Australia's most powerful gambling lobby groups, Clubs NSW, had lunch with a group of Nationals including then-senator Fiona Nash and the party's candidate for the seat of Orange, Scott Barrett.

Precisely who from Clubs NSW attended is unclear, but the organisation described the event as a "cruise" in its declaration to the electoral commission for which it coughed up $990 to the state Nationals.

They didn't quite know it at the time, but the NSW Nationals were about to be plunged into crisis.

Within weeks they would lose the Orange byelection to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, precipitating the toppling of their leader Troy Grant by John Barilaro.