Mr Baldwin on Monday laughed off suggestions he had been linked to the position, saying he was ‘‘not a contender’’ for the job.

Mr Speers sent the Tweet on Monday, but later said Mr Baldwin was out of the race. 

Mr Baldwin has served on the Speaker’s Panel in past terms, a position that requires taking the Chair of the House when required, and is not unfamiliar with the job.

‘‘I’m honoured that my name’s been mentioned, but I’m not a contender,’’ he said.

Mr Baldwin, who is also the Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, said his work on Murray Darling Basin reforms was close to entering the House of Representatives and was ‘‘all consuming’’.

Speculation increased on Monday about who would replace the former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop, who resigned on Sunday after a two-week expenses scandal that engulfed the government.

Names being tossed around include Nationals MP and Deputy Speaker Bruce Scott, the longest serving lower house MP Philip Ruddock, moderate Victorian Liberal Russell Broadbent, and Liberals Tony Smith, Andrew Southcott and Sharman Stone.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said who became the next Speaker was ‘‘always a matter for the party room’’.  A meeting is scheduled for Monday, when Parliament resumes.

Ms Bishop had faced rising pressure to resign for more than three weeks, since it was revealed she had spent more than $5000 to charter a helicopter from Melbourne to Geelong in November to attend a Liberal Party fundraiser.

Mr Baldwin said Ms Bishop’s resignation had been made ‘‘in the interest of the public and the Parliament’’.

Mr Baldwin said he would support whoever the party room chose as the next speaker.  

"(Ms Bishop) did the right thing," Mr Baldwin said. 

"Stepping down is what she should have done."

He said no matter what was done to regulating entitlements abuse, the onus was on the individual to act responsibly.

Courtesy of the Newcastle Herald.