A Nationals MP who has just been given a new job says he would be willing to go against the party line on coal seam gas.

The Nationals’ Kevin Hogan has been elected to the seat of Page in northern NSW; he says his opposition to CSG activity is so strong he would be willing to cross the floor to maintain his convictions.

“I have air and water quality reservations about it, as well as the industrialisation that it brings, and yes my position has not changed,” Mr Hogan said.

Mr Hogan manages to defy the Coalition stance on some major points, including the market power of some supermarkets and resource companies, saying he hopes the new Agriculture Minister John Cobb will be up to the task of protecting the vital lands for food production

“I know John Cobb has some great ideas about making the agriculture department more like an agri-business department to get them focussed more on finding us new markets, and getting our agricultural producers a price they can survive,” Hogan said.

“At the moment, a lot of our agricultural areas are not on a sustainable footing, with the prices they're getting, the cost pressures they're under, and there's a lot of work to do there.”