Is the outcome of this weekend's New England by-election a foregone conclusion?

Judging by the way Barnaby Joyce is campaigning, you could be forgiven for thinking it is.

"Barnaby Joyce believes that he is going to win this seat on his reputation and he doesn't need to campaign," said CountryMinded Party candidate, Peter Mailler.

"His strategy is to not engage in the conversation because we are going to ask questions about issues that he can't answer."

Another of Mr Joyce's opponents says New Englanders feel this election is an unnecessary formality.

Independent Rob Taber, who polled a respectable 13.8 per cent as the main independent candidate in 2013, second only to Mr Joyce on 26 per cent, says this campaign has an odd feel.

"It's like a 'Claytons' election'; the election to have when you aren't really having an election," Mr Taber told 7.30.

"It's just got a funny feel about it, this campaign, much different to the last two I stood for, and I just can't work out what's going on."

A week in Barnaby Joyce's campaign diary

Sorry, this video has expired Gina Rinehart presents $40,000 prize to Barnaby Joyce (Video courtesy Colin Bettles/Fairfax Media) ( (Video courtesy Colin Bettles/Fairfax Media) )

Running a small target strategy in an election is uncommon for an incumbent.

But in the week 7.30 spent on the campaign trail, Mr Joyce was difficult to find.

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Monday: Tamworth Business Chamber cancels its candidates forum after Mr Joyce pulls out.

Tuesday: My Joyce was invited to a forum organised by the Teacher's Federation of NSW. President Maurie Mulheron accused him of, "ripping funding out of every single school in this electorate — $26 million lost for the next two years out of schools in the New England district".

Instead, Mr Joyce was in Canberra where he was presented with a $40,000 award from mining heiress Gina Rinehart.

Wednesday: Mr Joyce's office withdrew its offer for 7.30 to join him on a planned visit to the township of Bingara in his electorate. The visit was cancelled because, "Barnaby needed to stay back and complete the documents to officially decline the prize money from last night's award".

Thursday: Mr Joyce appeared in Mackay, sandbagging the local LNP candidate ahead of the Queensland election. At the time of writing, the LNP in Mackay suffered a small swing against them.

Friday: Unknown.

'Born to rule culture'

Barnaby Joyce campaigning in Mackay in Queensland last week. ( ABC News )

The trigger for the by-election was the ruling the by the Hight Court that Barnaby Joyce was a dual citizen, so it is slightly ironic he is now deriding many of his opponents as "out-of-towners".

More than 50 per cent of the record 17 candidates are from outside the electorate.

Peter Mailler, is technically one of them, he lives a few kilometres outside the electorate in Boggabilla.

"This election is not a formality," he told 7.30.

"It's not just sorting out a bit of a problem that happened with the Deputy PM's position in the Parliament, it's actually an election that will determine the balance of power in this Parliament.

"It's pretty typical of a culture that thinks that they are born to rule."

Mr Joyce was unavailable for comment.