RICHARD Torbay’s frustration with damage done to the independent brand has the state member for the Northern Tableland seriously considering his future.
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And that may lay in federal politics.
Mr Torbay has been approached by not one, but three parties to contest the seat of New England in the 2013 poll.
Mr Torbay said he has had talks with the Nationals, the Liberal Party and Bob Katter’s Australia Party.
But the popularity of the state MP does not make his pre-selection a forgone conclusion as other high profile figures may also have their eye on the seat.
Queensland’s outspoken National’s Senator Barnaby Joyce has expressed an interest and Walcha farmer and National Farmers Federation president Jock Laurie has refused to rule out a run at pre-selection.
Mr Torbay said that if he was to accept any offer it would probably be with the Nationals but would be on “his terms and a no strings attached deal.”
“I’m not ruling anything in or out.
“I had a very interesting conversation with Bob Katter the other day and the only thing missing was the popcorn.”
Mr Torbay said that he had worked closely with both sides of politics and has been accused of being part of both sides of politics.
His concern centres on the fact that as a federal independent, it would be very difficult in the future to have any influence and points to the damage done to current independents in NSW’s hung parliament.
“I made no secret of my disappointment about the trashing of the independent brand and that has been very disappointing from my perspective.
“We’ve seen that reflected in a three state elections.
“The Queensland election last month saw three independents lose their seats, Victoria now has no independents and three lost their seats in the last NSW election.
“There is nothing personal about this but my number one consideration is delivering outcomes for the community and I don’t believe that can be done by an independent.
