Attacks on the media by the Labor-leaning Independent Member for New England Tony Windsor is proof he is feeling the pressure of holding the balance of power.

The Nationals Duty Senator for New England John Williams said Mr.Windsor has criticised “shock jocks” for stirring up emotions on the carbon tax debate, but he forgets that it was he and the Member for Lyne Rob Oakeshott who put the Labor-Greens alliance into power, not the “shock jocks”.

Senator Williams said for the first time in his Federal Parliamentary career the Member for New England is being held to account for his actions and he is lashing out at the messengers.

“Today in the Northern Daily Leader which is published in Tamworth and distributed throughout the New England electorate Mr. Windsor accused radio hosts of running an orchestrated campaign.

He singled out the Inverell radio station 2NZ, also in his electorate, which this week ran a poll on carbon tax that had 111 respondents against and 3 in favour. It wasn’t the result Mr. Windsor wanted to hear so he has now questioned the radio station’s professionalism.

This is the same man who demanded the establishment of a Climate Change Committee and consideration of a carbon price in return for giving Labor his support to govern. Now he doesn’t want people talking about it!

Mr. Windsor’s support of the most wasteful Government in history, his desertion of regional students on independent youth allowance and now his appearance with the Prime Minister and Greens leader Bob Brown at the announcement of a carbon tax have annoyed his constituents.

His actions surely demonstrate that in New South Wales, a vote for an Independent is a vote for Labor”, Senator Williams said.