But Northern Tablelands MP Richard Torbay is about to hit the road in a new car that bears the letters BLA on the number plate.

Mr Torbay was in Inverell on Friday where he picked up the new model Holden sedan from Gaukrogers.

The MP and Inverell mayor Barry Johnston laughed at the number plate when Mr Torbay collected the car.

As speaker of the legislative assembly in the NSW parliament, Mr Torbay is entitled to the use of a Government car.

The vehicles are purchased by the Department of Premier and Cabinet on a 15 month 40,000km lease and the new vehicle will be serviced in Inverell by the Gaukrodger service team when Mr Torbay is in Inverell on one of his frequent electorate visits to the town.

Normally all government vehicles are purchased in Sydney. But since becoming speaker, Mr Torbay has purchased the vehicle from his own electorate.

Each year he has upgraded the vehicle, buying the next vehicle from a different car dealership in the Northern Tablelands electorate.

In previous years he has got the vehicles from dealerships in Armidale and Glen Innes.

His last speaker’s vehicle will go under the auctioneer’s hammer in Tamworth, as happens with all government vehicles.

Mr Torbay was delighted with the vehicle on his first trip to Glen Innes, Deepwater and Tenterfield last Friday.

While the letters BLA raised a laugh, the mayor was interested in the rest of the number plate.

He was hoping 29M stood for the $29 million he would like to see the shire get in State Government grants this year.

Meanwhile Mr Toraby was hoping he could change the letters to SLA, which stands for Speaker of the Legaslative Assembly.