Independent MP Richard Torbay has quit NSW parliament, as he was linked to Labor operative Eddie Obeid.
Richard Torbay relishing his role as Speaker of the House in 2011 / Pic: Craig Greenhill Source: The Daily Telegraph
RICHARD Torbay's political career is in tatters after damning allegations that he received financial benefits as a state MP.
The accusations of impropriety against the Nationals' "star recruit" were referred to the state's corruption watchdog ICAC yesterday by the NSW Nationals party office.
Mr Torbay immediately resigned from NSW parliament, hours after withdrawing his candidacy as the Nationals candidate for the federal seat of New England on Tuesday.
NSW Nationals state director Ben Franklin said ICAC was considering the matter.
A senior federal National Party source said the state office would not disclose details of the information that Mr Torbay had passed on before his resignation, other than to say it was of a "serious" nature.
"It must have been serious for Richard to quit as he would have won the seat even with a scandal," the source said. It is understood not even Premier Barry O'Farrell was informed.
National Party MPs suggest Mr Torbay came to them with new information about his connections to Mr Obeid earlier this week, which he had not previously disclosed.
It has emerged that on June 21, 2010 Mr Torbay had received a $100,000 donation from a company called GEGM Investments, which according to ASIC extracts, is owned by Georgiana McCullagh.
Mrs McCullagh and her husband Cameron's historic north shore property Peroomba was saved by disgraced former planning Minister Tony Kelly.
Mr Torbay's resignation from parliament will result in a by-election in his state seat of Northern Tablelands.
He had been enlisted by the Nationals to help reclaim its once-prized seat from National-turned-independent MP Tony Windsor at the federal election.
The former NSW speaker was all but assured of victory given disenchantment in the New England electorate against Mr Windsor's decision to side with the Gillard government.
However the move split the Nationals, with his close relationship with the NSW ALP a concern among many MPs.
Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner and Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser had been among party figures unhappy at Mr Torbay's candidature.
Mr Torbay, a member of parliament for 14 years, did not show up to Question Time yesterday and his modest Armidale home remained deserted.
His neighbours said he had not been seen in town since Monday, when he watched his horse race at a local meet.
Mr Torbay had been a member of the Labor party while at Armidale Council before running as an independent for the state seat of Northern Tablelands in 1999.
The smear campaign against Mr Torbay began last year, soon after he agreed to run as a Nationals candidate.
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