COLOURFUL former Nationals Senator Bill O'Chee is considering making a comeback from the political dead in the Coalition's must-win seat of Wright.
Mr O'Chee, who has been plagued by controversy since losing his Senate spot in 1999, confirmed he was considering making a bid to replace Hajnal Ban in the federal electorate.
Ms Ban was stripped of pre-selection last week.
"A lot of people have been asking me to do it and I genuinely, genuinely like helping people," Mr O'Chee said. "I know that sounds very trite and corny."
Mr O'Chee was first elected to the Senate in 1990 at the age of 24 and left federal politics armed with a lucrative superannuation payout which guaranteed him $45,000 a year for life.
Outcry over the payout led to major reform of the parliamentary superannuation scheme, which is funded by taxpayers.
According to a parliamentary superannuation handbook, Mr O'Chee will be entitled to go back to the same generous scheme when he again retires if he gains the seat.
After leaving the Senate, he successfully sued the Queensland Police for wrongful arrest and was then sued himself for allegedly not paying legal bills.
Mr O'Chee was elected as a National Party member before jumping to the Liberal Party to unsuccessfully seek preselection in the Gold Coast seat of Moncrieff and is now considering running for the combined party.
He would not comment on when a decision would be made on the preselection but it is believed it will be on June 27.
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