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NSW Nationals MP Dugald Saunders has abruptly resigned as party leader with immediate effect.
In a stunning decision ahead of the last parliamentary sitting week of the year, Saunders issued a statement just before noon on Monday.
“For the past two-and-a-half years, I have had the privilege of leading the NSW Nationals – today I am stepping down from that position,” he wrote in a statement.
Former NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders surprised colleagues with his resignation.Credit: AAP
“It’s been an honour to lead the parliamentary team during a challenging time in opposition and I’ve always done my best to represent regional NSW.”
Saunders stunned colleagues when he sent a sudden message to MPs, which was sent to the media five minutes later. One senior Nationals MP said there was no warning that his resignation was looming.
After deposing former Bathurst MP Paul Toole as leader in May 2023, Saunders has overseen the party through a period of tumult within the Coalition.
One Nationals MP, speaking anonymously to detail internal party matters, said it became clear late last week Saunders had lost the support of the party room, saying there seemed to be considerable disquiet as to the leader’s ability in “managing his colleagues, setting a strategic direction and fundraising”.
Another MP complained not a single policy had been created during his two-and-a-half years of leadership.
“If you’re going to win the election, you need to put the hard yards in from the moment you’re elected, not just the last few months,” he said.
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However, insiders close to Saunders said the Dubbo MP had been “mulling” resigning for a “little while”, citing health issues among family members.
They conceded Saunders may have lost the party room, but attributed it to his distraction while dealing with personal issues.
Liberal and National sources threw up four names as Saunders’ potential successors: current deputy Gurmesh Singh, previous leader Toole, frontbencher Steph Cooke, or Kevin Anderson.
After years of leadership tension between Saunders and Toole, one source suggested the Nationals were seeking a compromise candidate, with Singh thought by some to have the numbers.
More to come.
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