Retiring member for Cowper Luke Hartsuyker says there are important messages from the Wentworth byelection result the federal government should accept.
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He says the most prominent of those messages was for the government to focus on the electorates.
"With the forthcoming federal election we need to heed that message," he added.
The byelection followed the decision by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull to quit after he was ousted from the leadership.
Independent candidate Dr Kerryn Phelps looks set to claim the seat despite a narrowing of the gap to her closest rival, the Liberal Party's David Sharma.
Mr Hartsuyker described the Wentworth result as "disappointing" and ranked alongside the Wills byelection as among the biggest swings against a federal government.
That byelection was triggered by the resignation of former prime minister Bob Hawke. Coincidentally, the federal seat of Wills was won by Independent candidate Phil Cleary.
"From an electoral point of view, Wentworth is a very different seat compared with seats on the Mid-North Coast," Mr Hartsuyker said.
"Wentworth has very different issues to us; there are no mobile black spots or dirt roads in Wentworth.
"Having said that though, (the result) has an important message for government and that is to focus on their electorate.
We need to stop talking about ourselves. As a government we should remain focused on the needs of our electorates.
- Luke Hartsuyker
"While I believe we (the government) has been delivering, we need to communicate our achievements much better.
"We need to stop talking about ourselves. As a government we should remain focused on the needs of our electorates."
Mr Hartsuyker said the Wentworth result reflected a long period of disunity within the government. The result reflected that, he said.
The soon to retire member said it was now incumbent on his fellow Coalition members of parliament to present a united front as we head toward the election.
"The mood in Canberra on Monday is of great concern amongst government members with regards to the implications of this result to the government," he added.
Mr Hartsuyker also weighed into speculation about a possible move by former The Nationals' leader Barnaby Joyce to return to the top job.
That would see another leadership challenge, this time to incumbent leader Michael McCormack.
"I am not aware of any move to change the leadership," Mr Hartsuyker said.
"And that is consistent with what Barnaby Joyce has publicly stated.
"I think this could be some mischief-making by someone.
"It is wildly overblown."
Mr Hartsuyker would not be drawn on The Nationals' preselection process to select his replacement to contest Cowper at the next federal election.
"The preselection process is very democratic and the preselectors, rightly, guard their right to select the next candidate," he added.
The ALP has endorsed Andrew Woodward to contest Cowper while the Greens’ Dr Sally Townley is their candidate. Former member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott is yet to make an announcement if he will contest the election.
The federal election is due in May 2019.
