NSW Nats stay with Toole

By Fiona Lloyd

Apr 9, 2023

At helm: NSW Nationals leader Paul Toole with the party’s Murray candidate Peta Betts. Mr Toole is remaining the leader despite a challenge from Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders. Photo by Contributed

The NSW Nationals have stuck with leader Paul Toole despite a challenge from a former agriculture minister and ABC broadcaster.

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The Bathurst MP held off a challenge from Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders after the party’s 16 MPs met in NSW parliament on April 5.

Upper house MP Bronnie Taylor retained the deputy leadership, elected unopposed, while Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh was re-elected as whip.

Mr Toole, a former teacher, has led the NSW Nationals since his controversial predecessor John Barilaro quit parliament in October 2021 and served as police minister and deputy premier under Dominic Perrottet.

Mr Saunders is a former radio presenter and sports broadcaster who called the Sydney Olympics before switching into politics in 2019, succeeding former police minister Troy Grant in the seat of Dubbo.

He slightly grew his margin to 19.4 per cent at the March 25 election.

While the Nationals’ overall primary vote slipped from 9.6 per cent to 8.7 per cent, the party retained all but one of its 12 lower house seats in the March poll.

Meanwhile, the Liberals remain leaderless after Mr Perrottet resigned on the night of the election.

By Fiona Lloyd

MMG agricultural editor