It is a position which Mr Williams hopes will see him re-elected for three years, which would take him up to 11 years of service in the Senate and nicely into retirement in 2019. 

National Party candidates will be positioned third, fifth, eighth and eleventh on the ballot paper, while their Liberal Party colleagues will fill the rest. 

Fiona Nash will be positioned at three above Mr Williams, at five, Wes Fang from Wagga Wagga will be at number eight and Fiona Leviny from Grafton will run at number 11.

Mr Williams said he thought the Coalition would get at least five out of the 12 NSW Senators to be elected from the Upper House ticket.

“I would hope we get six up, but I am very pleased with the fifth position,” Mr Williams said.

“It is a relief, and I think our state chairman Bede Bourke and state director Nathan Quigley have done a good deal negotiating with our Liberal colleagues. 

“There’s a good plan ahead for any future double dissolutions as well.”

Mr Williams said the first six NSW Senators would probably be elected for six years. 

“I’m looking for three years. Hopefully, I’ll be elected for three years, which means my term would expire on June, 30 2019, and is the time I would leave Parliament, if I am elected,” he said.

Mr Williams was elected to the Senate in 2007 as the 532 Senator elected to the Parliament since 1901, and he said he had been proud of that.