Dugald Saunders’ decision to quit as leader of the NSW Nationals has reshaped the Opposition benches on the eve of the state’s final parliamentary sitting week. His resignation, delivered on 17 November with no advance warning to colleagues, brought an abrupt close to a turbulent period marked by internal strain, policy disagreements and personal pressure.
Saunders described his move as a “difficult decision” but said it was “the right time for me to take a step back and focus more on my family and myself.” Reports of health challenges affecting several family members had weighed heavily on him in recent months. Those close to the party say he had been considering a departure for some time.
Behind the scenes, however, support in the party room had eroded. MPs had grown uneasy about the direction of the organisation and were frustrated by what they saw as uneven management of internal relationships. One senior figure said there had been “no warning” of the final decision, but many were unsurprised by the outcome. Questions about strategy, fundraising and a lack of fresh policy announcements added to the pressure.
The resignation also followed a divisive week for the Coalition. Nationals MPs had offered in-principle support for the federal Coalition’s move to abandon the 2050 net zero target, a stance at odds with NSW Liberals who remain committed to it. Internal polling suggested voters in Liberal-held seats backed net zero, while Nationals electorates were more mixed. The split exposed familiar tensions inside the partnership.
Speculation around the timing intensified after a documentary on the adult industry, featuring Saunders’ 19-year-old daughter, was released hours before the announcement. His office rejected any link, calling it a coincidence. Even so, the sudden leadership vacuum fed fresh talk of instability inside the Opposition, with comparisons drawn to leadership unrest in other states.
By the morning of 18 November, Nationals MPs had moved to settle the question of succession quickly. Gurmesh Singh, the Member for Coffs Harbour, was elected unopposed as leader. First elected in 2019 after careers in macadamia and blueberry farming, Singh has built a profile around regional health, emergency services and practical advocacy for the North Coast.
Kevin Anderson, the long-serving Member for Tamworth, was elected unopposed as deputy. His background includes ministerial roles in regulation, innovation, lands, water, hospitality and racing, experience that gives the new leadership team both profile and policy depth across regional portfolios.
Saunders will remain in Parliament as the Member for Dubbo and continue in his shadow portfolios covering agriculture, trade and natural resources. Coalition figures moved quickly to present a united front after the change.
NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman issued a formal statement welcoming the new team. “I congratulate Gurmesh Singh on becoming the new Leader of the NSW Nationals and Kevin Anderson on being elected Deputy Leader,” he said. He described Gurmesh as “a strong voice for the people of Coffs Harbour since entering Parliament in 2019” and praised his service across shadow portfolios. Speakman also highlighted Anderson’s long record, noting that “his experience as Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, and later as Minister for Lands and Water and Minister for Hospitality and Racing, proves he has the drive and know-how to get things done for country towns and farming communities alike.” He added that the Coalition would “work hard, speak plainly, and be accountable to the people of NSW,” and that “honesty between our parties keeps us strong.”
Former Nationals leaders, including Paul Toole and Sarah Mitchell, also paid tribute to Saunders and called for stability as the party resets itself less than two years out from the next election.
For Singh and Anderson, the task now is to settle a party that has spent much of the year wrestling with direction and identity, while presenting a coherent alternative to the Minns Government. The swiftness of their election suggests a party eager to move on, though the months ahead will test how firmly unity can hold.
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