Dugald Saunders steps down as NSW Nationals leader with speculation the Liberals’ Mark Speakman could follow

The New South Wales Nationals leader, Dugald Saunders, has stepped down from the role ahead of a party room meeting, citing family reasons. It comes as the state Coalition faces similar turmoil to its federal counterpart over climate policy. The NSW Nationals voted last week to abandon a net zero emissions target by 2050. The Liberals are expected to consider the issue on Tuesday. There have been ongoing tensions within the Coalition in NSW over a range of issues, including controls on wild horse populations in national parks and the Great Koala national park. Related: Kellie Sloane is tipped to replace Mark Speakman as NSW Liberal leader. That should make life tougher for Chris Minns The party’s previous leader, Bathurst MP Paul Toole, is expected to run for the top job again – but other challengers may emerge. The member for Coffs Harbour, Gurmesh Singh, and the Cootamundra MP, Steph Cooke, are potential leadership contenders but have not confirmed their intentions. “For the past two-and-a-half years, I have had the privilege of leading the NSW Nationals – today I am stepping down from that position,” Saunders said in a statement on Monday. “It’s been an honour to lead the parliamentary team during a challenging time in NSW opposition and I’ve always done my best to represent regional NSW. “It’s a difficult decision, but it is the right time for me to take a step back and focus more on my family and myself. It’s also the right time to allow a new leader to take up the fight ahead of the next election.” Saunders said he would continue to serve the people of Dubbo as their local member. The Liberal leader, Mark Speakman, on Monday described Saunders as “a tireless advocate for the Dubbo electorate and regional NSW, both as a leader of the NSW Nationals and as a trusted voice long before politics”.Saunders was formerly an ABC radio broadcaster in western NSW. “I met Dugald several times when he was the morning broadcaster for ABC Western Plains, notable for his fairness, intelligence and warmth,” the Liberal leader said. “When he entered politics, those strengths as a broadcaster readily moved across. I’ve valued very much his steady, collegiate and constructive counsel and diligence.” There’s been growing speculation that Speakman could be replaced as opposition leader as soon as this week, following continuing poor opinion poll results for the Coalition.