NATIONALS senator John Williams believes the new NSW premier Barry O’Farrell will dump Richard Torbay as speaker of the lower house in state parliament.

Mr O’Farrell last week said Mr Torbay had been the best speaker he had seen in his 16 years in parliament and said they had made no decision to get rid of him.

Senator Williams said he believes Mr Torbay won’t be reappointed.

“(There’s) two reasons why I think he won’t be reappointed as Speaker.

“Firstly, Mark Arbib is no longer the boss of the NSW Labor party.

“Secondly, the consistent and persistent bashing of the Nationals by Mr Torbay over many years will not place him in high regard with the new government.”

Senator Williams said it was reported in the press that then Labor Premier Morris Iemma offered Mr Torbay a ministerial portfolio prior to the 2007 election, but he was overruled by then Labor powerbroker Mark Arbib who said the independent couldn’t be in the minstry but could be appointed Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

Last Friday The Inverell Times reported that Mr O’Farrell had not yet made up his mind on the speaker’s position and praised Mr Torbay for his handling of the parliament.

Mr O’Farrell was respo-nding to a report in The Daily Telegraph that said the Liberal leader would replace Mr Torbay with a Nationals MP.

“That’s not correct,” Mr O’Farrell said when questioned about the story.

“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.

Senator Williams was more blunt about the matter.

“In my opinion to even suggest Richard Torbay would retain the speaker’s role is fantasy.

“He has as much chance of getting the job as I have of replacing Ricky Ponting as Australian cricket captain, and that is zilch,” Senator Williams said.

Mr O’Farrell’s office has again reiterated that no decision has been made to remove Mr Torbay from the speaker’s position

When The Inverell Times contacted Mr O’Farrell’s office after Saturday’s election his chief of staff Brad Burden said no decision had been made.

Mr Torbay easily won the seat of Northern Tablelands on Saturday, despite a 10 per cent swing towards the National Party.

© 2011 Inverell Times

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