Nationals sources have contacted the media expressing concern Mr Cobb is showing favouritism to Mr Farraway because he placed a picture of him, at the Gulgong show, on the front page of his four-page newsletter. 

Mr Cobb said it was unacceptable that Nationals members had been sniping because it “wasn’t something Nationals members do”.

“Because I put one of 20 people on the front page of my newsletter does not mean I’m doing something terribly erroneous,” he said. 

Mr Cobb said he took Mr Farraway to the Gulgong show because Mr Farraway was the Bathurst Agricultural, Horticultural and Pastoral Association president and he ran the Royal Bathurst Show.

“I took the president of the biggest show west of the Blue Mountains to Gulgong and Mudgee, which are becoming part of Calare,” he said. 

“I wanted to welcome them and show them by putting them on the front page that we welcome them to Calare.”

The photo of Mr Farraway in Mr Cobb’s newsletter was taken eight days before Mr Farraway announced his intention to seek pre-selection for the Nationals seat of Calare and Mr Cobb’s media advisor said the newsletter was put together before that announcement. 

However, Mr Cobb  also took Mr Farraway to the recent opening of a men’s shed in Cudal.

“Because he asked me to, he asked me to do it and it did it alright,” he said.

Mr Cobb was asked about his relationship with member for Orange Andrew Gee, who also put his hand up for pre-selection for Mr Cobb’s seat, but Mr Cobb said Mr Gee had never spoken with him about federal politics.

He disputed claims that placing Mr Farraway in the newsletter gave him an unfair advantage ahead of the Nationals vote on April 30. 

“It is ridiculous to suggest that because I put Sam Farraway on the front of my newsletter that I am being unfair to somebody with all the resources of a state office at their disposal, come on let’s get real here,” he said. 

nicole.kuter@fairfaxmedia.com.au