Nationals MPs warned of 'treachery' over plum NSW role

A Nationals MP has been accused of contemplating treachery against the coalition as he considers a lucrative role in the NSW parliament that would disadvantage his colleagues.

Ben Franklin has been backed by NSW Premier Chris Minns to become upper house president, with the premier saying on Wednesday he would instruct his party to elect a non-government member to the position. 

The move would shave the number of opposition MPs in the upper house to 14 against Labor's 15 and free up a path for the government to pass legislation without needing the support of right-leaning crossbenchers.

Any coalition MP who considered taking the role was contemplating a "sleazy deal" with the government, Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said on Friday.

"This is what people hate about politics," he told Sydney radio station 2GB.

"It would be an act of treachery for any person who's been elected seven weeks ago by Liberal and National voters to turn their back on those voters and instead do a sleazy deal with Labor.

"Mr Franklin was elected a number of weeks ago, a very short time ago, on a Liberals and Nationals ticket for eight years.

"(He was) elected by voters who put him there to serve the mandate that we have."

Mr Franklin, a close friend of the premier, is facing expulsion from the Nationals as he considers the presidency - a role that comes with a $315,814 salary and numerous perks including additional staff, a car and driver.

The party responded to the news on Thursday by passing a snap resolution that no member could become president, or deputy president, during an urgent party room meeting.

Members of the party are also considering referring the matter to the state's corruption watchdog.

Nationals leader Paul Toole said he found the situation distressing and felt Mr Franklin had betrayed the party on Thursday.

Deputy Premier Prue Car said the Nationals were abusing the Independent Commission Against Corruption's role to work through their political fights.

"The ICAC is not there to monitor squabbles within the National Party," she said.

"This seems to be the National Party really having a hissy fit because Paul Toole doesn't have control of his own party room.

"If Ben decides to nominate, it's a matter for him personally and the National Party needs to sort that out within itself."

Mr Franklin has been contacted for comment.