Federal Nationals frontbencher John Cobb says he might have a candidate in mind to run for the NSW seat of New England, following the shock withdrawal of Richard Torbay.
Mr Torbay on Tuesday was asked by the Nationals to pull out of the federal race for New England, held by independent Tony Windsor, and resign from the party.
The party wouldn't go into the details of his withdrawal, but speculation is rife about alleged past links between Mr Torbay and disgraced former NSW Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid.
Mr Torbay on Wednesday also has resigned as an independent from NSW parliament. So far, Queensland Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce seems to be the frontrunner for the New England seat, having grown up in the region and previously expressing an interest in contesting it.
But another possible contender is National Farmers' Federation (NFF) president Alexander "Jock" Laurie, a fourth-generation grazier from Walcha in New England.
Mr Laurie was in Canberra on Wednesday renewing calls for the introduction of a mandatory code of conduct for supermarkets.
Asked if he'd consider running for New England, Mr Laurie joked he might have to think about what political party to join.
But he didn't rule out the prospect, adding he needed some time to think it over. "I'm not going to say yes, and I'm not going to say no, because I haven't had time to consider it," he told reporters.
Mr Cobb, whose seat of Calare covers near a third of rural NSW, said he was "shocked" by Mr Torbay's resignation and hoped the coalition could now find the best candidate possible.
"Personally, the bloke that was here a minute ago would make a great one," Mr Cobb said, referring to Mr Laurie, who was standing nearby. "I'll probably give him a nudge."
