Orange by-election: Deputy Premier to face leadership spill as soon as Tuesday

EXCLUSIVE: Deputy Premier Troy Grant is facing a leadership spill within days with Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser likely to move a motion in the wake of a disastrous Orange by-election result.

• COMMENT: NATIONALS WAKING UP TO A BROKEN PARTY

Deputy Premier Troy Grant is facing a leadership spill as soon as Tuesday with Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser saying he is likely to move a “leadership spill” motion in the wake of a disastrous Orange by-election result in which the government appears to have lost.

Nationals leader Troy Grant is facing the prospect of a leadership spill. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I think all leadership positions should be spilled,” Mr Fraser said.

Asked if he would move a spill motion at the next Nationals party room meeting on Tuesday — the last scheduled meeting of the year in the last week of parliament — Mr Fraser said “more than likely”.

Nationals MPs are all talking this morning about a spill with possible candidates mentioned including Skills Minister John Barilaro, Local Government Minister Paul Toole and even an attempt to install Primary Industries Minister Niall Blair from the upper house.

National Party sources have told The Daily Telegraph they believe they have only a “10 per cent chance” of winning the seat now, with a two party preferred count against the Shooters to come.

The Nationals at present have 30 per cent of the vote to the Shooters’ 25 per cent with Labor on 18 per cent, but the Shooters and Labor did a preference deal on how to vote cards.

Coffs Harbour Nationals MP Andrew Fraser said it was likely he would move a leadership spill motion at the party room meeting on Tuesday. Picture: Craig Greenhill

In a statement this morning, Deputy Premier Troy Grant said: “The final by-election result isn’t known but the count so far delivers a strong message.

“The message for Macquarie Street is clear: Government is there to support communities and otherwise, should just get out of people’s lives.”

In one of the longest and bloodiest by-election campaigns in recent time, NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, Labor and the minorities banded together to stage a “choose the ­Nationals last” campaign to seize on voter discontent over greyhounds and council amalgamations.

Talk show hosts Ray Hadley and Alan Jones further revved up emotions, visiting the electorate this week to hold a forum.

Orange’s Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party candidate Philip Donato. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Last night Mr Grant, while conceding he would be disappointed to lose the seat, said he would remain as leader.

He also said voters had sent a message, and vowed they would be ­listened to in the post-election mop-up.

“I’m the leader of NSW Nationals today and I (intend) to remain the leader for the ­remainder of this term.

“There’s been commentary about messages being sent to us and I can assure everyone that we’ve heard those messages,” he said.