Fred Nile is the conviction politician who plans to use his power “for God and the family” and at 80 years old shows no sign of fatigue, even after 34 years in the NSW parliament.

On Friday, when the final results for the state’s upper house are declared, it is likely that the Christian Democrat MP will hold the balance of power.

Reverend Nile’s vote will be crucial to the re-elected Liberal Government, and in the weeks since the election he has already met with Premier Mike Baird and prayed with him.

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Early signs suggest he is unlikely to block the Government’s program.

“I don’t believe a minority party has a right to obstruct the Government from governing,” he told 7.30.

Rev Nile has been a constant presence in New South Wales politics, and is renowned for campaigning on social issues.

He opposes gay marriage, gay adoption, Islamic face coverings, and wants limits on halal food in Australian supermarkets.

He is planning a bid to raise the legal drinking age in NSW to 21 and has long campaigned against ethics classes in schools as an alternative to scripture teaching.

But despite his long history of activism, he does not understand why some people call him controversial.

“It always surprises me, because I’m the most non-controversial person you could get,” he said.

“Everything I believe is just so – in my opinion – mainstream and ordinary.

“The only controversy comes because there are groups of people who oppose what I’m saying.”

Nile accused of fearmongering against Muslims

Rev Nile once called for a halt to Muslim immigration, and now he fears that a larger Islamic community will try to impose sharia law.

“There are some dangers that Australians should appreciate,” he said.

“Once [the Muslim population] gets to five per cent or 10 per cent, it’s not that the Australians change [but] the Muslims change and become more militant and more demanding.”

Islamic Friendship Association Spokesman Keysar Trad condemned Mr Nile’s statement.

“I’m very disappointed with Fred Nile’s contribution to New South Wales,” he said.

“As a man of God, as a Reverend, you’d expect him to be inclusive, you’d expect him to reach out with love and compassion and peace towards others.

“But what we’ve seen from him over the last couple of decades is vitriol, divisiveness and fearmongering about Islam and Muslims.”

Wife stands by her ‘beautiful, approachable’ man

Silvana Nero says she encouraged her husband Fred Nile to abandon plans to retire and continue his work in politics. Photo: ABC

By Fred Nile’s side is his wife Silvana Nero. The couple married in 2013, two years after the death of Mr Nile’s first wife, Elaine.

Ms Nero, 57, also ran for the Christian Democratic Party in the NSW state election and encouraged her husband to abandon his plans to retire.

“I really believe that I’ve been brought here for such a time as this in the sense that I believe Fred wasn’t meant to stop,” she said.

“My main area of concern for me is that I’m supporting my husband and loving him and upholding his principles and values which are based on a Christian biblical world view, and that the Ten Commandments are upheld in this nation.”

Ms Nero said her husband had a softer side, and was more than just the morals crusader the world has come to know.

“Fred is someone who is beautiful and someone who’s approachable, and for someone like me to love him he has to have all that,” she said.

“I hope that people will be able to see a little more of Fred on the tangible side, someone that is relatable.”

‘The pilot fish of the lunar Right’

But fellow crossbenchers in NSW see things differently.

“Fred has always been the pilot fish of the lunar Right,” Greens MP John Kaye said.

“When homophobia was the cause of the day, Fred was right there as their man in parliament.

“Now it’s hatred of Muslims, and fear of Muslims, whether it’s mosques or halal food, Fred is their voice in parliament.”

Mr Kaye said he expected Rev Nile to vote with the Government on most issues.

“He is the Government’s patsy,” he said.

-ABC