Mr Stewart was on a familiarisation tour of the electorate after putting his hand up to stand as the fledgling party's candidate.

Based at Molong, Mr Stewart joined Palmer United Party straight after its launch on Anzac Day.

"I was the campaign manager for the candidate for Kilare," he said.

"I was going to run for Parkes and they asked me to find a candidate for Riverina."

After sourcing a couple of potential candidates, Mr Stewart opted to run for Riverina himself.

Mr Stewart is an engineer who is currently a self-employed consultant and has lived in central western NSW since 1990.

He has strong knowledge of environmental issues having spent 12 years at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as working for the RTA, chaired an anti-suicide support network and also ran a group in western NSW that provided assistance to drought-affected farmers.

Despite living outside the electorate, Mr Stewart said he was familiar with the general issues residents faced.

"I am appalled at the abuse of the extreme environmental position," he said.

"The pendulum has gone too far, there is a role for a sensible environmental contribution.

"I have been in touch with the Irrigators' Council to engage on these issues."

Mr Stewart believes Palmer United Party is in a position to benefit from disillusionment with the major parties.

"It is increasingly obvious that Australia needs a real alternative to the duopoly that has dominated our politics for so long and has now lost its way," he said.

"Clive Palmer has taken a good, business-type approach. He's practical, he's a goer, he's a doer.

"Clive is kicking in his own money to this campaign. "He's concerned about where this country is headed and willing to do something about it."