Dugald Saunders has quit as NSW Nationals leader after two and a half years in the job, in a move that has shocked his colleagues.
The member for Dubbo announced his decision via a media release and has not given any interviews.
“It’s a difficult decision but it is the right time for me to take a step back and focus more on my family and myself,” he said.
“It’s also the right time to allow a new leader to take up the fight ahead of the next election.
“I will continue to serve the people of the Dubbo electorate as their local member.”
Mr Saunders said it had been an “honour” to lead the parliamentary party during a “challenging time in opposition”.
One of those challenges reared its head last week, as state Nationals MPs offered ‘in principle’ support for their federal colleagues’s decision to abandon the target for net zero emissions by 2050.
In resigning, Mr Saunders said it had been a “challenging time” while in opposition.
That put them at odds with their state Liberal counterparts, who continue to support the target.
While Nationals sources say Mr Saunders faced a considerable challenges trying to find a compromise position with the Liberals, they do not believe net zero was the catalyst for his resignation.
Nationals MPs will meet in Sydney tomorrow when parliament resumes, but it is unclear whether a new leader will be chosen in the coming days.
Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke, a minister in the previous Coalition government, is among the potential contenders.
Bathurst MP Paul Toole, a former Nationals leader, is another potential candidate, as is Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh.
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