Gurmesh Singh elected new NSW Nationals leader after sudden Dugald Saunders resignation

The newly-minted NSW Nationals leader has revealed his thoughts on Chris Minns, while hitting out at the government’s performance.

NSW Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh has used his first press conference as head of the conservative party to lash Premier Chris Minns, saying he has “aura” but his government is “not doing a lot”.

“We’ve got a tough fight ahead of us between now and the next election, but the polling for this government is not strong, with two-thirds of men and three-quarters of women not preferring Chris Minns as their premier,” Mr Singh told reporters in Sydney.

“So whilst we understand the bloke’s got aura, the reality is, they’re a government who’s not doing a lot — they’re talking a lot.

“They held a lot of reviews in the first couple of years of their term, but right now they’re really, really light on delivery, and that’s what the people of NSW will judge them on, and right now they’re judging them poorly.”

Gurmesh Singh was elected NSW Nationals leader unopposed. Picture: NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

Mr Singh, who is the first Indian Sikh leader of a major political party, also refused to be drawn on identity politics.

“I’ve never seen myself as anything but Aussie, so that’s for other people to define. I’m not embarrassed or ashamed by the label by any stretch, but it’s not the way I see myself.

“The Nationals have had a pretty proud record with George Souris, John Barilaro, (on) electing leaders from diverse ethnic backgrounds, and I’ll carry that torch on.”

On the contentious issue of energy, Mr Singh confirmed under his leadership, the state party would be aligned with its federal counterpart.

“If we look 100 years into the future, I don’t think we’ll be using the same energy sources that we’re using now,” he said.

“So obviously, as someone who studied industrial design as my degree, I think, obviously, we have to be technology neutral. Nuclear has got to be on the table.”

Mr Singh said the NSW Premier had “aura”. Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

‘Honour’: Singh on leadership

Earlier, Mr Singh said he was honoured to take up the top job, less than a day after the party was thrown into turmoil.

“It is an honour to be elected by my peers to lead the NSW Nationals, alongside Deputy Leader Kevin Anderson,” Mr Singh said in a statement.

“Sarah Mitchell will continue to serve in the NSW Nationals leadership team as our leader in the Upper House.

“Our team will continue to represent regional NSW to the very best of our abilities.”

He thanked the outgoing leader for his “leadership and guidance over the past two and half years.”

“The wellbeing of regional communities is at the heart of everything we do, and I thank my party room colleagues for affording me the opportunity to continue the great work of the Nationals across NSW.”

In a rapid-fire turnaround, Mr Singh was elected unopposed at an early morning party room meeting on Tuesday, just a day after Mr Saunders abruptly quit the role.

Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson was also elevated without challenge, securing the deputy leadership after what insiders described as a “fluid” and fast-moving contest that continued until minutes before the vote.

Dugald Saunders said he left the party to focus on his personal life. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Saunders released a short statement on Monday saying he wanted to “focus more on my family and myself”, though party figures believe he no longer commanded the support of his colleagues and would have faced a challenge this week had he not resigned.

Mr Singh, a blueberry and macadamia farmer turned conservative MP, was reported to be the only member ringing colleagues about the leadership on Monday.

He was first elected in 2019 and has been an opposition spokesman on emergency services, regional affairs and the North Coast.

Mr Singh, a descendant of Punjabi Sikhs whose great-grandfather migrated to Australia in the 1890s, grew up in Woolgoolga on the Mid North Coast.

Originally published as Gurmesh Singh elected new NSW Nationals leader after sudden Dugald Saunders resignation