Paul Toole to become deputy premier after winning Nationals ballot

Paul Toole will replace John Barilaro as Nationals leader after defeating his running mate in a landslide vote.

Paul Toole has emerged as the new leader of the Nationals, defeating Melinda Pavey in Wednesday morning’s leadership vote 15-3.

Mental health minister Bronnie Taylor has been elected the deputy leader of the party.

Outgoing leader John Barilaro was present and it’s understood he backed Mr Toole and Ms Taylor for their respective roles.

Paul Toole (second from left) walks into the Nationals party meeting with colleagues. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

NSW’s new leadership team confirmed a tour of regional NSW will be among their top priorities.

Newly elected Deputy Premier Paul Toole said he will be touring the bush with Premier Dominic Perrottet in the coming weeks.

Mr Toole, flanked by his new deputy leader Bronnie Taylor, praised his party’s promotion of women in politics.

“(Bronnie) is going to be absolutely brilliant to work with as we go forward for the state,” he said.

He also called out the party’s upper house leader Sarah Mitchell and his leadership rival Melinda Pavey as examples of women in high ranks of the party.

Ms Taylor has become the first female deputy of the NSW Nationals in more than 100 years.

“I get to stand here as the first ever (female) deputy leader of the NSW Nationals party,” Ms Taylor said.

Newly elected as the new Nationals leader Paul Toole and and deputy leader Bronnie Taylor. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Ms Taylor said she is determined to speak up for women as the sole woman in the NSW government’s new leadership team.

She said the government needs to do better to foster female representation.

“I’m a very proud minister for women in NSW. It means a lot to me that portfolio and the message that sends,” she said.

“Will I continue to talk about it all the time? Absolutely I will. I plan to make my voice heard.”

Paul Toole walks out of the Nationals Party meeting as the new leader. NSW State Parliament. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said she was looking forward to working with the new leaders.

“For us as the Nationals, it’s an exciting time ahead. As Paul said, after a 100 years we are seeing wonderful strong representation from the Nationals”.

Mr Toole said his Liberal party colleagues considered him a “pain in the ass” when it came to fighting for regional NSW.

“I’m not going to back down. Dom’s probably the right height that I’ll elbow him if I need to,” he said.

On his agenda is a plan to ensure regional businesses have enough workers after a dire shortage that is costing farmers their harvest.

“We will be looking above our caps on numbers with people coming in from other countries to get us over that,” he said.

He said he was hesitant to bring forward Freedom Day from Monday, October 11.

Mr Toole and Mr Perrottet will this afternoon discuss who will take on the role of Transport Minister after Andrew Constance resigned to head to Canberra.

The new deputy premier will retain his regional transport portfolio

NATS TO VOTE ON NEW LEADER

Paul Toole is set to be elected the Nationals leader and NSW’s Deputy Premier at Wednesday’s party room meeting after sources suggested that rival Melinda Pavey could not secure enough votes to beat him to the party’s top job.

It means the NSW Nationals will miss the chance to appoint its first ­female leader and, with the departure of former Premier Gladys Berejik­lian, leave a dearth of high-ranking women in government ranks.

“This is a unique opportunity for women in politics in NSW that the community is calling out for,” Ms Pavey said. “The community is devastated at the loss of Gladys.”

She paid tribute to outgoing Nats leader John Barilaro who “gave me my start in the ministry and has given me confidence”, as well as championing women into leading roles.

Paul Toole is expected to be elected leader of the Nationals on Wednesday.

Sources believe that Water Minister Melinda Pavey doesn’t have the numbers. Picture: Jonathan Ng

But party insiders said it was unlikely that Ms Pavey, the current Water Minister, would be able to topple current deputy leader Paul Toole.

The race for Toole’s spot will ­likely be simpler, with Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor garnering extensive support and no other MPs putting their hand up for the deputy role on Tuesday night.

One source said it was a “fair ­assumption” that Mr Toole and Ms Taylor had a strong backing.

Although they said Ms Pavey could not be dismissed because her long time in government made her “a very experienced performer”.

They added that while it was “healthy” that Ms Pavey challenged Mr Toole and that she had support, she may not have the numbers to ­secure the top job.

A second source said they were “fairly sure” Mr Toole, who also holds the regional transport portfolio, had more numbers on Tuesday night.

Mr Toole put his hand up for party leadership after taking 24 hours to reflect following the resignation of John Barilaro. “Barra has been an incredible champion for the regions, every bit as passionate and ferocious about his pursuit of investment and infrastructure for regional NSW off camera as he is on,” he said.

“I want to keep building on the foundations he’s laid and provide the community with the stability they want to see.”

He said his three years as deputy and lifelong regional experience made him the right man for the job.

“Having been somebody who’s lived and breathed in regional NSW — I want to continue the strong work John Barilaro has done, and continue to bring that investment into our regions,” he said.

He also pointed to his experience working with new premier Dominic Perrottet in the crisis cabinet.

Originally published as Paul Toole to become deputy premier after winning Nationals ballot