But, the Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor was left “disappointed” when told he wouldn’t be able to present it.

Still, the broadcast was a positive for the city, he said.

“I think the debate in Goulburn last night promoted Goulburn well and I’m glad the ABC chose to have the regional leaders debate here,” Cr Kettle said.

“There was an opportunity for questions to be asked from the floor to each of the candidates and I think that the robust answers sometimes were quite entertaining, but gave a generalist view, and that each of the parties represented put forward their strong points of view (and) that’s fine.

“I was a little bit disappointed that I wasn’t able to ask my question, which I think related more locally than nationally. That may well of been the reason I wasn’t allowed to ask it - because the debate was targeted to a national audience not a local audience.”

His question related to the growth of Australian cities and the increasing pressure on metropolitan-based businesses to relocate to regional areas.

Cr Kettle wanted an indication from each party whether there could be “incentives available to help business relocate from metropolitan areas to regional areas like Goulburn”.

“If they are able to relocate with some incentive, it would undoubtedly help regional growth and provide much needed employment growth in the region. In uncertain economic times, incentives for these companies to move would allow them to retain their competitive edge in a regional area,” he said.

Another resident unable to question the panel - including deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, Greens leader Richard Di Natale and shadow agriculture minister Joel Fitzgibbon - was Charlie Prell.

His question, directed at Mr Joyce, read: “In this region alone there are seven wind farms making direct payments to more than 60 farmers in the order of $1.5 million per year. These farmers will never need the government assistance you’ve provided today to struggling dairy farmers. This is money that’s going directly to your core constituency and making rural economies more resilient. The Nationals could be leading the debate on the benefits that wind farms bring to regional Australia, and you could be wiping the floor with Richard Di Natale and Joel Fitzgibbon. What’s stopping you?”

Renee Woodberry wanted to ask the parties how they would attract industry to Goulburn, keep it here and provide jobs for kids.

As Goulburn High School P&C president she also wanted to press the politicians on education funding, including for an upgrade of the hall.