RICHARD Torbay was yesterday given hope that he will keep the speaker’s job after tomorrow’s state election despite reports speculating that he would be replaced by a Nationals MP if the Coalitions wins power, as expected.

NSW Opposition Leader Barry O’Farrell responded to the speculation in yesterday’s Daily Telegraph by saying Mr Torbay was the best parliamentary speaker he’d served under.

The speaker’s job has a salary of $220,000, much higher than the $136,000 salary of an MP who does not have a portfolio responsibility.

The Daily Telegraph had reported that Mr O’Farrell was considering replacing Mr Torbay with a Nationals MP.

“That’s not correct,” Mr O’Farrell said when questioned about the story yesterday. “We will not consider any of those issues until and unless the voters of NSW give us a mandate on Saturday.

“I’ve made clear that Richard Torbay has been the best speaker I’ve served under. He’s been by far and away the fairest.

“He’s someone I respect but I’ve not considered nor have I made a decision about that,” Mr O’Farrell said.

Unsurprisingly Mr Torbay welcomed the comments that allayed fears he would lose the speaker’s job, telling The Inverell Times it showed he had a good relationship with the Coalition.

Mr Torbay is expected to hold Northern Tablelands comfortably tomorrow.

But Nationals canidate Charlie McCowen is hoping to win votes from the incumbent, while Sarah Frazier is standing for Labor, The Greens candidate is Pat Schultz and Isabel Strutt is standing for the Christian Democratic Party.

Mr Torbay will be attending Inverell on Display at Rugby Park tomorrow and will cast his vote while in Inverell.

© 2011 Inverell Times

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