Paul Toole survives NSW Nationals leadership challenge by Dubbo MP

A challenge for the NSW Nationals leadership was unsuccessful on Wednesday, but Paul Toole may not be safe in the seat for long after a shock vote result, it can be revealed.

Paul Toole has clung on as Nationals leader following a leadership spill but his hold on the job could be short-lived, with almost half of his party voting against him.

The former Deputy Premier survived by just one vote when Nationals MPs met in parliament for the first time since the Coalition’s election loss.

Mr Toole was challenged by Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders, after all leadership positions were declared vacant - as is practice after an election.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Mr Toole secured eight votes from the 16-member party room.

Mr Saunders got seven votes.

Former Deputy Premier Paul Toole has survived a leadership challenge. Picture: Damian Shaw

Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders speaking at Question Time held at the Parliament of NSW in Sydney. Picture: Christian Gilles.

One MP voted for both Mr Toole and Mr Saunders in the two-man contest, meaning the vote was declared informal.

The Telegraph understands that Mr Saunders told Nationals colleagues that the party needs to “modernise” to represent everyone living in rural and regional NSW, including people who moved to the bush during Covid.

Mr Saunders’ supporters were unhappy with how the Nationals performed at the election; while the party only lost one seat, it failed to win back any seats lost to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers in the 2019 poll.

Mr Toole said that it was an “honour” to be re-elected as leader, but refused to say why almost half of his colleagues voted against him.

“There’s different views in our party room,” he said.

“I’ve had the privilege of actually leading the party over the past 18 months, and I look forward to now taking on the role for the next four years,” he said.

Bronnie Taylor was elected as Deputy Nationals Leader. Picture: NCA Newswire / Gaye Gerard

Former Regional Health Minister Bronnie Taylor was re-elected as Deputy Nationals Leader, seeing off a challenge from Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.

Former Education Minister Sarah Mitchell was re-elected as the party’s leader in the upper house, and Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh was re-elected as whip.

A Nationals source said Ms Taylor, Ms Mitchell, and Mr Singh all supported Mr Saunders’ leadership bid.

“Today we had a ballot and now I know the NSW Nationals will get behind Paul Toole and the leadership team to go forward from here on in,” Mr Singh said.

Nationals sources suggested Mr Toole had been put on notice by the tight vote, and could face a further challenge down the track.

However they expected the party to get behind Mr Toole as leader, at least for now.

Ms Taylor and Ms Mitchell were spotted having coffee with Mr Saunders on Macquarie Street before the leadership vote; Mr Toole arrived at parliament solo.