Overview
- The party elected Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh unopposed at an 8:30am Tuesday meeting, with Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson chosen as deputy unopposed.
- Dugald Saunders said he stepped down to focus on family and himself and confirmed he will continue as the member for Dubbo.
- A spokesperson for Saunders said the timing was coincidental to his 19-year-old daughter's appearance in an OnlyFans-focused documentary, though some media reports cite unnamed Nationals sources who say he had lost colleague support.
- The transition follows the NSW Nationals' vote last week to abandon a 2050 net-zero target as the Liberal Party holds a meeting to review its position.
- Media coverage notes ongoing speculation about Liberal leader Mark Speakman's position following poor polling and internal divisions on climate policy, with the next NSW election due in March 2027.