Simson is considered one of the few people in the NSW seat with the profile to challenge former Nationals leader

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson has been urged to run as an independent against Barnaby Joyce, most recently during a rural womens event in Canberra earlier this month.

Simson, a farmer who lives in the seat of New England, is one of the few people in the northern New South Wales seat with the profile to seriously challenge the former National party leader.

She attended the Rural Women’s Award on 15 October, where a number of people urged her to run against Joyce.

'Anyone but Nats': Rural figures come out against Barnaby Joyce and Nationals Read more

The dinner was attended by influential rural women and past award winners, including Catherine Marriott, who made sexual harassment allegations against Joyce, which he has denied.

The rural womens’ network has rallied around Marriott and a number of women have pushed back against the idea of Joyce returning to the leadership of the National party.

Simson has also spoken out in support of Marriott since she made the allegations.

The NFF asked Marriott to host its annual congress on the theme of “diversify” in the same week as the rural womens awards. The decision made it difficult for Joyce to attend either event and effectively cut him off from a key rural constituency.

It is understood Simson is considering her options as her three year term as NFF president expires in November next year. The federal election is expected in May.

Simson has already spoken about the numerous approaches from political parties over a career in politics but those conversations have also involved running as an independent.

pip courtney (@pipcourtney) and the big question on the lips of many in Canberra this week was "will Fiona Simson run against Barnaby Joyce in the seat of New England?" https://t.co/wQC04rXrSm

If she stands, Simson would be yet another high profile woman independent running against the Coalition in a safe seat; following in the tradition of Cathy McGowan in Indi, Kerryn Phelps in Wentworth and Rebekha Sharkie in Mayo.

The Victorian elections are also marked by independent women candidates challenging Coalition MPs in rural seats.

The New England area has a history of support for independent candidates both at a federal and state level, including Tony Windsor and Richard Torbay.

Eight months after he stepped down following his relationship with a former staffer, the breakdown of his marriage and the harassment allegations, Joyce has become increasingly vocal. Last week said he would take the leadership if it was offered to him, while denying he was actively campaigning against McCormack.

Asked if he would “carry any baggage” with women in rural constituencies should he return to the leadership, Joyce said last week that “I would certainly say I would have to do a lot of work.

Barnaby Joyce: 'I would take Nationals leadership if it was offered' Read more

“And I do that all the time. There is no one in [Parliament] that is purer than the driven snow and that includes me and I acknowledge I would have to do work and I would be working very hard and be working as respectfully as I could,” Joyce told the Conversation.

“But I would also plead with people, don’t assume that an inference is the truth or a rumour is the truth. A rumour is a rumour and an inference is an inference and when people have investigated something and can’t find something, then respect that decision.”

Joyce denied that he chose to avoid the womens’ awards though he said “I acknowledge it would have been absolute burley for media and I just want that circus to stop.”

While the NSW National party investigated Marriott’s allegations, the party was unable to make a determination due to insufficient evidence.