It was delayed last week because of the State Budget.

But the Nationals, who introduced the bill, said it was likely to happen on Thursday.

Yet even if the Liberal/Nationals coalition joined with the independents, they would likely still be defeated by the Labor Government opposing the bill.

Macquarie Fields MP Andrew McDonald, who told Parliament he did not support the sale of the school, said he would not cross the floor to vote with the Opposition.

Instead, he will not be in the chamber and intends to abstain from voting.

‘‘I will not be voting with the Opposition on the bill, nor will I be voting against the bill,’’ he told the Advertiser this week.

‘‘Taking a stand against the government you’re a part of is a pretty high stakes game.

‘‘It’s not something you do lightly.’’

Dr McDonald said he had told party leaders of his intention to abstain from voting.

‘‘It’s something you do knowing you will lose some bark and you will take some grief for doing so, but I was chosen to represent the best interests of the electorate,’’ he said.

Opposition education spokesman Adrian Piccoli said opposing the sale meant nothing if Labor MPs would not cross the floor and vote with the Opposition.

‘‘It’s time for Labor MPs like Andrew McDonald, Phil Costa [Wollondilly], Geoff Corrigan [Camden] and Graham West [Campbelltown] to stand up for their local communities and support education in western Sydney by voting against the sale of land at Hurlstone Ag,’’ he said.

‘‘The sale of Hurlstone shows the Rees Government is out of touch.

‘‘The Liberal/Nationals oppose the sale of any land at Hurlstone Ag, and we call on Labor MPs to support our Hurlstone Agricultural School Site Bill 2009.’’