AAP
Federal Nationals leader Warren Truss says Barnaby Joyce would be a good candidate to challenge Tony Windsor in the NSW seat of New England.
But ultimately that decision would lie with the NSW Nationals Party, who are seeking a new candidate after the former frontrunner Richard Torbay suddenly withdrew.
NSW Nationals state chairman Niall Blair confirmed on Tuesday the party was no longer backing Mr Torbay after receiving information about him of which it was not previously aware.
Mr Truss said he could not confirm or deny Mr Torbay's dumping was down to his alleged links with disgraced former NSW Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid.
"I haven't been informed of those reasons," he told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
"Obviously there were issues that I wasn't aware of, and those have now apparently come to light."
Senator Joyce reportedly has said he would like to contest the seat, held by independent MP Tony Windsor, if his party asks him.
Mr Truss said Senator Joyce had a connection with the northern NSW region and had expressed a previous interest in running for the seat.
"He would undoubtedly be a good candidate," he said. "But ultimately this will be a decision for the NSW party."
Senator Joyce confirmed he would be interested in standing in New England, but said he would not make a final decision until consulting with friends and those lived in the electorate.
"I am prepared to put myself forward if that is what the people wish," the Queensland senator told reporters in Canberra.
"There are two obvious places that a person should stand, and one is where they live, and I live in Maranoa, and one is where they grew up, and I grew up in the New England."
Senator Joyce said he would leave the decision to local electorate council.
He wished Mr Torbay well, and said "as God as my witness" he had no clue as to why he was forced to withdraw.
Senator Joyce said he would not want any contest against Mr Windsor to be a "personal fight" against the independent MP.
"I want it to be a fight policy and about exactly where this nation is off to," he said.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said the preselection for New England was up to The Nationals, but said Senator Joyce would "make a very, very strong candidate".
"Barnaby is a friend, he's a colleague, he's a very senior member of my team," he told reporters in Canberra.
However, Mr Windsor took aim at Senator Joyce, saying New England was his second choice for a lower house seat and that his push was simply about positioning himself for leadership of The Nationals.
"I don't think he's got anything to do with New England or the people of New England," Mr Windsor told ABC Radio.
"It's all about Barnaby and his lust for power."
Mr Windsor said The Nationals had questions to answer about Mr Torbay and his links to Mr Obeid, outlined in diaries kept by the disgraced NSW Labor powerbroker.
The diaries were tendered to a recent corruption inquiry in Sydney.
"One would have to ask what were those diary entries about, particularly seeing that he (Mr Torbay) is a Nationals candidate and Eddie Obeid is a disgraced Labor operative," Mr Windsor said.
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