Damien Tudehope told The Border Mail that a lower impost for businesses outside Sydney was worth study.

"I'm not immune to the idea of regional payroll tax rates and it's probably something we ought to have a look at," Mr Tudehope said during a visit to Albury yesterday.

Victoria has a lower payroll rate for businesses outside Melbourne, but NSW has argued it is competitive because its threshold for the tax, which is paid by 280 businesses in Albury, is higher than its southern counterpart.

Mr Tudehope met Albury and Wodonga council leaders, business figures and cross border commissioners in one meeting before discussing the deposit scheme on drink containers with supermarket operators.

He did not rule out an extension of the compensation scheme paid to southern Riverina traders hurt by Victoria not having 10-cent deposits.

However, Mr Tudehope said pressure should be on Victoria following all other states and adopting deposits.

"It's a no-brainer, if every other jurisdiction says this is good....why aren't Victoria jumping on board?" he said.

"I'm writing to my counterpart in Victoria and saying 'the businesses in Albury are being significantly impacted on' and this is a decision primarily brought about by the Victorian government, they are causing us this problem."

Next week in parliament's Upper House, Mr Tudehope will lead opposition to a bill to decriminalise abortion.

He will move an amendment to outlaw gender selection as a reason for abortion.

However, he thinks it is unlikely the bill will be defeated.

"I think probably the movers of the bill would be more confident than those who are opposing it, if it was a football match I would have my money on them," Mr Tudehope said.

He dismissed speculation that Premier Gladys Berejiklian's handling of the bill put her job in peril.

"Gladys Berejiklian will be the premier until the next election if she wants to be, she is a very strong leader and the state is in as good a position as it is because of her leadership," he said.