Earlier in the week, Mr Humphries accussed Mr Colless - and fellow independent John Clements - of being a whinger rather than a problem solver.

“These guys are a policy free zone. They’ve got no answers. They make comment - they just don’t put anything up,” he said.

While Mr Colless partially agreed with Mr Humphries’ allegation, he criticised him for showing a lack of independence. It was an accusation he also made of his Nationals colleague and Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton. “Policy free zone - partially correct,” said Mr Colless.

“But it would be nice for these people to step out from under the umbrellas of their parties so we can see these people for themselves.

“Mr Humphries and Mr Coulton can step out from behind the skirt of the National Party and we can actually see the person and not the party, and we can get their opinion and not the party’s.”

Mr Colless also took issue with Mr Humphries’ claim that he “can’t just complain about everything”.

“I don’t complain about everything. I complain about the relevant issues of the day,” he said, raising the Moree Bypass as an example. He added that in contrast to his fearless approach, his two Nationals detractors were “too scared” to take on the issue.