Dugald Saunders
Dugald Saunders | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the New South Wales National Party | |
| In office 8 May 2023 – 17 November 2025 | |
| Deputy | Bronnie Taylor Gurmesh Singh |
| Preceded by | Paul Toole |
| Succeeded by | Gurmesh Singh |
| Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales | |
| In office 21 December 2021 – 28 March 2023 | |
| Premier | Dominic Perrottet |
| Preceded by | Adam Marshall |
| Succeeded by | John Graham (interim) |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Dubbo | |
| Assumed office 23 March 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Troy Grant |
| Personal details | |
| Party | National |
| Occupation | Journalist |
Dugald William Saunders is an Australian politician who served as leader of the New South Wales National Party from 2023 to 2025. He has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Dubbo since 2019.[2] Saunders was the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Western New South Wales in the Perrottet ministry from 2021 to 2023.[3]
Before entering politics, Saunders had a long career in broadcasting. He was a commentator at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and was the ABC Local Radio morning presenter in Dubbo for ten years.[4]
Following a leadership spill in May 2023, Saunders became leader of the New South Wales National Party.[5]
In November 2025, Saunders announced his resignation as the leader of the New South Wales National Party.[6] The day before he resigned, it emerged that his 19-year-old daughter was a pornographic actress. [7] On 18 November, Gurmesh Singh was elected as Saunders' replacement.[8]
References
- ^ "Candidates – The Legislative Assembly District of Dubbo". NSW Electoral Commission. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Mr Dugald William Saunders MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
- ^ "Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police (662)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 21 December 2021.
- ^ Green, Antony (2019). "Dubbo". ABC Elections. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
- ^ Cockburn, Paige (8 May 2023). "NSW Nationals leadership spill sees Paul Toole replaced by Dugald Saunders". ABC News. Archived from the original on 5 September 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ Dole, Nick (17 November 2025). "NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders stands down". ABC News. Archived from the original on 17 November 2025. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ "Nationals leader pulls pin day after daughter features in adult sex industry doco". 7NEWS. 17 November 2025.
- ^ Dole, Nick (18 November 2025). "NSW Liberals leadership remains in doubt, as new leader also elected for NSW Nationals". Archived from the original on 17 November 2025. Retrieved 18 November 2025.