RETIRING Calare MP John Cobb was an "embarrassment" to the people he represented, says the man he defeated at the last federal election.
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Labor candidate for Calare Jess Jennings today welcomed Mr Cobb's retirement announcement, saying it was long overdue but no surprise.
The Bathurst councillor said Mr Cobb's days were numbered the day he lost the agriculture portfolio to current Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce in the early days of the Abbott government in 2013.
Dr Jennings accused Mr Cobb of failing to stand up for his constituents against damaging Liberal policies in the joint party room.
"It’s a shame he never stood up for regional people in the Coalition party room and was prepared to let the Liberals run riot," Dr Jennings said.
"Mr Cobb is leaving a government that has comprehensively failed regional people by refusing to see that climate change presents a huge challenge to agriculture and our communities.
"He’s leaving us with regional families that can’t afford to educate their kids past Year 12 because university fees have risen so high.
"He’s leaving us with regional businesses that can’t find the skilled workers they need because TAFE has been destroyed.
"He let the Coalition government slash funding to local governments in Calare by $12 million, and privatise Medicare Local.
Dr Jennings said many of Mr Cobb's more memorable quotes had insulted his own constituents.
"Mr Cobb was famous for his cringe-worthy statements about rural people – how we didn’t need people with university degrees, and wouldn’t worry about medical costs because we just 'put a band aid on it'," he said.
"And let’s not forget his appalling insult of disabled people when he was Community Services Minister.
"I, for one, won’t miss the embarrassment he caused for the people of Calare."
However, Dr Jennings did not expect things to improve for Calare voters under a new Nationals MP "because it’s the policies of the Coalition that really hurt regional people".
Dr Jennings failed to make an impact on Mr Cobb's margin at the 2013 election when he was defeated 66-34 on a two-party preferred basis.
He has already been confirmed as the Labor candidate for Calare at the federal election to be called later this year.
