ICAC informed as Richard Torbay quits Independent MP Richard Torbay has quit NSW parliament, citing the bruising impact of recent days - during which the Nationals gave him the boot and he was linked to controversial Labor operative Eddie Obeid. The Nationals asked Mr Torbay to resign as their candidate for the federal seat of New England on Tuesday, following reports he was helped into politics in 1999 by Mr Obeid, a former Labor powerbroker who is now at the centre of the largest corruption investigation in NSW history. Mr Torbay is one of dozens of political and other figures featured in Mr Obeid's diaries, published last week. The information that led to the federal Nationals' decision has been referred to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), the NSW Nationals said in a statement, without further detail. Mr Torbay's resignation, effective immediately, will result in a by-election in his state seat of the Northern Tablelands. He has also brought forward the date of his resignation as Chancellor of the University of New England, which was to have taken place next month. The 51-year-old father of three ended his 14-year political career in a one-line letter to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. "It is demanding and time consuming to do the job properly and, given the events of recent days and the toll it has taken on my family, I feel the time has come to consider other options," he said in a statement to the media. My intention always was to leave the state seat this year but I have brought it forward. Federal Nationals leader Warren Truss said he expected the party to call for new nominations for New England within days and choose a candidate within weeks. "It is just so disappointing that there seems to be some issue in the past that potentially has tainted that outstanding record of service in the community," he said of Mr Torbay. Nationals Senator John Williams said he had been told in a party room meeting that legal advice was being sought. We do not know what he has done ... We were just gobsmacked to hear of this ... I found Richard Torbay a very decent bloke. But Sam Dastyari, general secretary of the NSW branch of the ALP, tweeted: "Good riddance to Richard Torbay, a career liar who has been caught out. Australia can do without him in our nation's Parliament. Mr Windsor said The Nationals and Mr Torbay had questions to answer. He also attacked high-profile Nationals senator Barnaby Joyce, who grew up in the New England region and appears to be the frontrunner for preselection. "I don't think he's got anything to do with New England or the people of New England," Mr Windsor said. Another possible contender is National Farmers' Federation president Alexander "Jock" Laurie, a fourth-generation grazier from Walcha. "I'm not going to say yes, and I'm not going to say no, because I haven't had time to consider it," Mr Laurie said. Federal independent MP Rob Oakeshott wished Mr Windsor good luck. As stated before, the reach of Obeid went beyond one political party. And is one of reasons why I'm now Independent MP. Good luck Tony Windsor," he tweeted.