How many punters missed the bravura performance of former NSW State National Party parliamentary deputy leader Adrian Piccoli on Thursday November 16? Television news services and the front page of The Sydney Morning Herald displayed Piccoli on the floor of the House lambasting the state's Labor opposition regarding their preferencing the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party at the recent by election for the seat of Orange.

As a result of a record 34 per cent swing against it, the National Party have lost this hitherto blue-ribbon seat to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party who for the first time will be represented in the lower house in NSW.

In his fiery speech, Piccoli asserted that the election result has opened the way for more dangerous firearms to be imported into Australia. Holding aloft a picture of an assault rifle, Piccoli stated that, because they travel, he and his family had had a lucky escape not to be in Port Arthur when many innocents were slaughtered by Martin Bryant. Then, in a memorable gesture, Piccoli held his hand in the manner of a child pretending to have a gun and proceeded to mime the shooting of Opposition members.

While this display did little for the dignity of the current Education Minister of NSW, the desperation it reflected demonstrates an important truth of Australian politics this year – one of the country's major parties has lost a traditional stronghold to a fledgling, philosophically conservative party.