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| John Barilaro elected new NSW Nationals leader and deputy premier | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| John Barilaro has been elected as the new leader of the New South Wales Nationals and will become the state’s deputy premier following the dramatic resignation of predecessor Troy Grant. | John Barilaro has been elected as the new leader of the New South Wales Nationals and will become the state’s deputy premier following the dramatic resignation of predecessor Troy Grant. |
| The Monaro MP was elected unopposed in a ballot against Andrew Fraser during a party room meeting on Tuesday. | The Monaro MP was elected unopposed in a ballot against Andrew Fraser during a party room meeting on Tuesday. |
| Niall Blair was also elected as deputy leader, after the education minister, Adrian Piccoli, stepped down from the position on Monday. | Niall Blair was also elected as deputy leader, after the education minister, Adrian Piccoli, stepped down from the position on Monday. |
| Barilaro holds the seat of Monaro by a margin of 2% and is the minister for skills and small business. | Barilaro holds the seat of Monaro by a margin of 2% and is the minister for skills and small business. |
| Grant stood down as National party leader after a massive swing in the state seat of Orange at a byelection on the weekend. | Grant stood down as National party leader after a massive swing in the state seat of Orange at a byelection on the weekend. |
| As of Monday afternoon, the Nationals suffered a swing of 33.8% against the party on first preference votes. | As of Monday afternoon, the Nationals suffered a swing of 33.8% against the party on first preference votes. |
| Grant put out a statement just after 1pm on Monday, just hours after the Liberal premier, Mike Baird, had suggested he had done an “exceptional job”. | Grant put out a statement just after 1pm on Monday, just hours after the Liberal premier, Mike Baird, had suggested he had done an “exceptional job”. |
| “As a result of the Nationals candidate for Orange, Scott Barrett, facing an uphill battle to hold the seat, I have informed the NSW Nationals leadership team that at tomorrow’s party room meeting I will be standing down as leader of the NSW Nationals,” Grant said. | “As a result of the Nationals candidate for Orange, Scott Barrett, facing an uphill battle to hold the seat, I have informed the NSW Nationals leadership team that at tomorrow’s party room meeting I will be standing down as leader of the NSW Nationals,” Grant said. |
| He said it had been “an incredible privilege” to serve as leader but he considered his action would allow the NSW Coalition to “pause and reset” its government. | He said it had been “an incredible privilege” to serve as leader but he considered his action would allow the NSW Coalition to “pause and reset” its government. |
| “At all times I have been guided by my principles of honesty, integrity and hard work but I accept the result in Orange is a clear message that we haven’t always got it right, nor have we always taken the community with us,” Grant said. | “At all times I have been guided by my principles of honesty, integrity and hard work but I accept the result in Orange is a clear message that we haven’t always got it right, nor have we always taken the community with us,” Grant said. |
| “Regional NSW is full of hard-working, decent people that want to see their government supporting them and otherwise let them live their lives as they see fit. | “Regional NSW is full of hard-working, decent people that want to see their government supporting them and otherwise let them live their lives as they see fit. |
| “I hope that through my actions the NSW government is given the opportunity to pause and reset the way it is seen to be governing and our record of delivery can once more be front and centre.” | “I hope that through my actions the NSW government is given the opportunity to pause and reset the way it is seen to be governing and our record of delivery can once more be front and centre.” |