Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh has been elected unopposed as the leader of the NSW National party, less than 24 hours after the sudden resignation of Dugald Saunders.
Mr Singh, a former berry farmer, has been in parliament since 2019 and is the shadow minister for emergency services.
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson has been elected deputy, also unopposed.
Former police minister Paul Toole and Cootamundra MP Steph Cooke were also considering their options overnight but decided not to run.
Mr Singh was flanked by Mr Anderson and Upper House MP Sarah Mitchell as he arrived at parliament for the Nationals meeting.
“I’ll do the best thing I can do for the party,” he said.
The resignation of Mr Saunders surprised many of his colleagues on Monday.
He issued a media release, saying he wanted to focus on his family and himself.
Arriving at parliament on Tuesday morning, Tweed MP Geoff Provest said he did not see it coming.
“It was a shock to us all, we’re all under a lot of pressure here,” Mr Provest told reporters.
“I feel for him.
“Today is a necessary distraction [but we] really want to get this over and done with and get on with the real job, which is looking after the people of NSW.”
