Richard Torbay - State Political Career

State Political Career

In 1999, he challenged the former Nationals Minister, Ray Chappell, for the seat of Northern Tablelands, running as an independent candidate. In a surprise result, Torbay defeated Chappell, winning 44.15 per cent of the primary vote to Chappell's 34.09 per cent, with a two-party preferred margin of 59.37 per cent.

Torbay was re-elected at the 2003 and 2007 general elections, again representing Northern Tablelands. He accepted an offer by Premier Morris Iemma to become Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, a position usually filled by a member of the governing party. Following the election of the O'Farrell–Stoner Liberal/National coalition government at the 2011 general election, Torbay was replaced as Speaker by the Liberals' Shelley Hancock.

Torbay was pre-selected as the National Party candidate for the federal seat of New England for the 2013 election, challenging former fellow state independent and current sitting member Tony Windsor. However, in a surprise move on 19 March 2013, the Nationals cancelled Torbay's pre-selection and asked him to resign from the National Party. The following morning Torbay also resigned his seat in State Parliament.

Despite being a Federal Nationals candidate Torbay remained an independent for the remainder of his state parliamentary career and did not join the State Nationals parliamentary team.