But will it make a difference to the result of next month's election? A CSU professor says it might - but only if candidates avoid the temptation to over-promise.

Some of the Coalition's recent promises include hiring more nurses and other staff for the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD), two dedicated health experts for every public school, a second daily train between Bathurst and Sydney, an inland rail maintenance facility in Dubbo and a $25 million sports stadium in Orange.

Other promises include boosting the state’s Farm Innovation Fund from $650 million to $1 billion, $200 energy rebates for self-funded retirees, two separate $100 vouchers for the Active Kids program and an extension of the NSW Seniors Card program to all residents aged 60 years and above.

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The Nationals' candidate for Dubbo Dugald Saunders said the WNSWLHD can expect 271 more nurses and midwives, 27 more doctors, 37 more allied health workers and 53 more hospital support workers.

"This increase in nurse numbers is even higher than the nurse-to-patient ratios being asked for by the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association and is a significant number of jobs for this region," Mr Saunders said.

But the announcement of more health staff has failed to cut much ice with the NSW Nursing and Midwives' Association (NSWMA).

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NSWMA general secretary Brett Holmes said the NSW Coalition has failed to deliver a transparent nurse-to-patient ratios system throughout NSW hospitals.

“Experience tells us without minimum, guaranteed nurse-to-patient ratios on every shift and every ward, nothing will change in our public hospitals," Mr Holmes said.

“Five thousand [more health staff for the state] is a big number, but without a commitment to mandated, minimum ratios on every shift and every ward, the Government is ignoring the systemic flaws in its current rostering system which jeopardise safe patient care."

Mr Holmes said NSW Labor has committed to match the numbers, but it is promising to deliver mandated shift-by-shift ratios.

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Labor candidate for Bathurst Beau Riley said the NSW Coalition had eight years to address these issues.

"Now that it's election time, they are starting to acknowledge there are problems," Mr Riley said.

"It’s disingenuous and people can see that. If they were serious about fixing these problems they would have done it years ago."

Labor too has been making big promises such as free TAFE education and the creation of more regional jobs.

Orange MP Phil Donato, a member of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, said the Liberals and Nationals have a long history of over-promising and under-delivering. 

“They are the great pretenders of the bush. Voters will see straight through their empty promises and pork-barrelling," Mr Donato said. 

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CSU's Associate Professor of Political Science Dominic O'Sullivan said political parties always make promises at election time and there is nothing unusual about what the NSW Government is doing.

"Political parties, however, are careful not to over-promise. If they over-promise, there is a risk of not delivering and also the electorates will not believe them," Professor O'Sullivan said.

"Political parties do fulfil most promises made by them, but sometimes circumstances do change and some promises are not kept."

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Professor O'Sullivan said promises by political parties do make a difference for a small percentage of voters, who are undecided between the government and the opposition or the minor parties.

"Such voters compare promises made by both sides."

Professor O'Sullivan is expecting a closely-contested election, but says the election can swing in either direction in the coming three to four weeks.