Richard Torbay
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The Honourable Richard Torbay |
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| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Northern Tablelands |
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In office 27 March 1999 – 20 March 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Ray Chappell |
| Succeeded by | Adam Marshall |
| Majority | 19.7% |
| 30th Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly | |
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In office 8 May 2007 – 2 May 2011 |
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| Preceded by | John Aquilina |
| Succeeded by | Shelley Hancock |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 March 1961 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Political party |
Independent (state) National (federal, 2012-2013) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Website | Parliamentary webpage |
George Richard Torbay (born 26 March 1961), an Australian politician, was an independent member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing Northern Tablelands from 1999 to 2013. Torbay was the 30th Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, serving from 2007 until 2011, and was the first independent member to be Speaker of the House since 1913. Prior to his election to State parliament, he served as Mayor of Armidale City Council from 1995 to 1998.
Born in 1961, Torbay was educated at Kingswood High School. He was elected to Armidale City Council in 1991 and was a Councillor 1991–98. He was the Deputy Mayor 1992–93, and Mayor 1995–98. He also established Armidale City Council: Public Relations Committee in 1993 and Youth Council in 1993.
His involvement in local government also extended to being Chairman New England Local Government Group 1997–98; Chairman NSW Country Mayor's Association 1997–98 and Member Water Supply and Resources Committee of the Local Government and Shires Association 1996.
He is married with three children.
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 comfortably re-elected at the 2003 and 2007 general elections, each time taking over 70 percent of the primary and over 80 percent of the two-party vote.
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.
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