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2021 National Party of Australia – NSW leadership election

6 October 2021 2023 →

Candidate Paul Toole Melinda Pavey Percentage 83.33% 16.67% Caucus 15 3 Seat Bathurst Oxley

Leader before election John Barilaro Elected Leader Paul Toole

The 2021 leadership election for the National Party of Australia – NSW was held on 6 October 2021 to elect a new leader of the New South Wales Division of the National Party of Australia and subsequently the Deputy Premier of New South Wales, following the resignation of John Barilaro. The election was conducted among the National Party members of the Parliament of New South Wales and contested between Melinda Pavey and Paul Toole. Toole won the election 15 to 3. Bronnie Taylor was elected as deputy party leader, unopposed.

A separate leadership ballot for the National Party's coalition partner, the New South Wales Liberals, was held the day before.

Background

Incumbent leader and deputy premier John Barilaro announced his resignation on 4 October, just days after the announcement of Gladys Berejiklian's pending resignation from the leadership of the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) and her tenure as Premier of New South Wales. In a press conference, Barilaro said the decision to resign was for the state to have a "new beginning". Barilaro's time as Deputy Premier has seen the Nationals break off from the coalition agreement between themselves and the Liberal Party of Australia briefly, while Barilaro himself has previously indicated a desire to contest for the Division of Eden-Monaro in the Parliament of Australia which did not eventuate. Barilaro had served as the deputy premier since 2016, succeeding the previous leader Troy Grant.

Candidates

Declared

• Melinda Pavey, Minister for Water, Property and Housing

Celebrities and Media Personalities

• Ray Hadley, Talkback radio broadcaster (2GB)

• Paul Toole, Deputy Leader of the New South Wales National Party of Australia and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads

Declined

• Adam Marshall, Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales

See also

• John Barilaro
• 2023 New South Wales state election
• 2021 Australian Labor Party (New South Wales Branch) leadership election
• 2021 Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) leadership election

References

1. "Paul Toole wins NSW Nationals leadership vote, becomes new Deputy Premier". ABC News. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
2. Visontay, Elias (6 October 2021). "Paul Toole to become NSW deputy premier after winning Nationals leadership contest". The Guardian Australia. Toole had been deputy leader of the NSW Nationals, and his ascension to leader on Wednesday meant his party deputy leadership was vacant. Bronnie Taylor, an upper house MP and mental health minister, was elected unopposed to the position of deputy leader.
3. ^ Knaus, Christopher; Davies, Anne (4 October 2021). "NSW deputy premier John Barilaro resigns from politics days after Berejiklian quits". The Guardian (Australia). Retrieved 5 October 2021.
4. Cockburn, Paige (4 October 2021). "John Barilaro resigns as NSW Deputy Premier, triggers by-election in seat of Monaro". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
5. ^ Rabe, Tom (5 October 2021). "Paul Toole tipped to succeed John Barilaro as NSW Nationals leader". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
6. Hadley, Ray (5 October 2021). "Why Ray Hadley is supporting Melinda Pavey for Nationals leadership". 2GB. Sydney. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
7. Turnbull, Tiffinie (5 October 2021). "Paul Toole joins race for NSW Nats leader". Canberra Times. Retrieved 5 October 2021.

• 2021 elections in Australia
• 2021 political party leadership elections