PARKES MP Mark Coulton has paid tribute to member for Calare John Cobb, who has announced he will retire at the next election.
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Mr Coulton had two weeks’ notice of the announcement, and said he would miss Mr Cobb's friendship and advice.
"I am pleased that John seems to be happy that after 15 years he is moving onto the next chapter," Mr Coulton said.
"Fifteen years in the Australian Parliament is a very long time. I'm going to miss John not only for his friendship, but he has got a good knowledge of agricultural and regional issues."
Along with a long career as a farmer and time as president of the NSW Farmer's Association, Mr Cobb was the member for Parkes, before boundary changes moved much of the central west into Calare.
The switch in 2007 made room for Mr Coulton to contest the seat of Parkes, and the pair have worked closely through the years.
"He represented a lot of the towns that I do now because of the changes ... and he has got a great love of the west of NSW," Mr Coulton said.
"I have fond memories of working with John ... mainly sort of getting advice ... and lobbying for roads funding and funding for the Inland rail, those sort of things."
Mr Cobb is the latest in a long line of Coalition MPs preparing to bow out of federal politics, with Nationals MP Warren Truss and Liberal MP Andrew Robb announcing their intentions to retire last month.
Mr Coulton said Mr Cobb would be remembered as a bipartisan politician, who often put the interests of Australian farmers above party politics.
"What a lot of people don't know is while he was the shadow minister for agriculture, he actually helped out some of the Labor ministers with some of their regional issues," Mr Coulton said.
"He thought that would be better for Australian farmers than making a political point of it.
"Cobb has never been one of the ones that has beaten on about the party political stuff, he has been more about getting results ... without seeking too much glory for himself."
Mr Coulton said he was glad his friend had the chance to leave on his own terms.
"He seems very comfortable with his decision. I think as with everything in politics, it's important to be true to who you are... and I think he would be very proud of his contribution,” he said.
