New South Wales Nationals
LeaderDugald Saunders
Deputy LeaderBronnie Taylor
Founded1919 (1919)
Headquarters107 Pitt Street, Sydney
Youth wingYoung Nationals
Membership (2020)Decrease 3,036[lower-alpha 1]
Ideology
Political positionCentre-right
National affiliationFederal Nationals
Colours    Green and Yellow
Slogan"It's Your Time"
Legislative Assembly
11 / 93
Legislative Council
6 / 42
House of
Representatives
7 / 47
(NSW seats)
Senate
2 / 12
(NSW seats)
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council
1 / 9
Website
www.nswnationals.org.au

The National Party of Australia – N.S.W.,[lower-alpha 2] commonly known as "The Nationals" or the NSW Nationals, is a political party in New South Wales which forms the state branch of the federal Nationals and has traditionally represented graziers, farmers, and rural voters generally.

The party has generally been the junior partner in a centre-right Coalition with the NSW branch of the Liberal Party of Australia. Since 1927, the Nationals have been in Coalition with the Liberals and their predecessors, the Nationalist Party of Australia (1927–1931), the United Australia Party (1931–1943), and the Democratic Party (1943–1945). During periods of conservative government, the leader of the Nationals also serves as Deputy Premier of New South Wales. When the conservatives are in opposition, the Liberal and National parties usually form a joint opposition bench. New South Wales is the only state where the Coalition has never been broken, and yet has not merged into a unified non-Labor party.

History

Name changes

The movement began as the Progressive Party, from the 1922 split until 1925. It then used the name the Country Party until 1977, when it became the National Country Party. The party's name was changed to the National Party of Australia in 1982.

  • 13 October 1919 – The Farmers' and Settlers' Association of New South Wales, the NSW Graziers' Association and the People's Party of Soldiers and Citizens meet as the first electoral council of the Progressive Party of New South Wales.
  • 15 December 1921 – Split of the Progressive Party between urban and rural wings. Rural wing (known as the "True Blues") continues as the Progressive Party.
  • 12 August 1925 – Michael Bruxner announces to the NSW Legislative Assembly that the party has changed its name to the Country Party of New South Wales.
  • 24 September 1931 – In order to clarify its support for the New England New State Movement, the party name changes to the United Country Party of New South Wales.
  • 9 February 1944 – The State Conference agrees to a further name change as the Australian Country Party (N.S.W.).
  • 26 June 1976 – The State Conference held in Broken Hill rejects a proposal to follow the federal party and rename itself as the "National Country Party of Australia – NSW".
  • 26 June 1977 – The following State Conference held in Coffs Harbour approves the name change to the National Country Party of Australia – NSW.
  • 26 June 1982 – The annual State Conference held in Wagga Wagga approves the name change to the National Party of Australia – NSW. The federal party does not make the same change until its Federal Conference on 16 October.
  • 25 October 2003 – The NSW Central Council of the party approves the 11 October decision of the federal executive to use the term, The Nationals, in all state and federal election campaigns.[5]

Government (2010s and 2020s)

As a measure of the Coalition's then-solidity in NSW, the Liberals won enough seats to theoretically govern alone during the Coalition's massive landslide at the 2011 state election. However, new Premier Barry O'Farrell kept the Nationals in his government.

Neo-Nazi infiltration

In 2018, the party revealed that approximately 30 members of its youth wing were being investigated for alleged links to neo-Nazism. Federal Nationals leader Michael McCormack denounced these attempts stating that: "The Nationals will not tolerate extremism or the politics of hate. People found to engage with such radicalism are not welcome in our party. We are a grassroots party proudly championing what matters most to our regional and rural communities – always has been, always will be". Several suspected neo-Nazis were expelled from the party and its youth wing. John Barilaro, the leader of the NSW Nationals, also denounced racism and fascism within the party stating that: "I have no problems calling this out, this is something I'm very strong on, I do not accept racism".[6]

Planned move to crossbench

On 10 September 2020, the Nationals NSW declared that they would no longer support the legislation of the NSW Liberal Party, and would effectively move to the crossbenches in Parliament. This was caused due to a new amendments to planning regulation which looked to class more forested area as koala habitat, restricting land clearing in such areas and increasing compliance for landowners, to which they disagreed with. In response, the Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, threatened to sack Barilaro and his colleagues from cabinet.[7] Less than 24 hours later, on the morning of 11 September 2020, the Nationals backed down and rejoined the government.[8]

Leadership

Leaders

People who served as the Leader of National Party of Australia in New South Wales are:

Leader Term start Term end Time in office Deputy Premier Notes
Michael Bruxner192119253–4 yearsNo[9]
Ernest Buttenshaw192519326–7 yearsNo[10]
Michael Bruxner19327 May 195825–26 years1932–1941[9]
Davis Hughes7 May 195826 March 19590–1 yearsNo[11]
Sir Charles Cutler26 March 195916 December 197515–16 years1965–1975[12]
Leon Punch17 December 19752 July 19859–10 years1975–1976[13]
Wal Murray2 July 198526 May 19937–8 years1988–1993[14]
Ian Armstrong28 June 199314 January 19995 years, 200 days1993–1995[15]
George Souris14 January 199931 March 20034 years, 76 daysNo[16]
Andrew Stoner31 March 200316 October 201411 years, 199 days2011–2014[17]
Troy Grant16 October 201415 November 20162 years, 30 days2014–2016[18]
John Barilaro15 November 20166 October 20214 years, 325 days2016–2021[19]
Paul Toole6 October 20218 May 20231 year, 214 days2021–2023[20]
Dugald Saunders8 May 2023Incumbent249 days2023–

Deputy Leaders

People who served as the Deputy Leader of National Party of Australia in New South Wales are:

Deputy Leader Term start Term end Time in office Leader Notes
William Fleming 1922 1922 0 years Michael Bruxner [21]
Ernest Buttenshaw 1922 1925 2–3 years [10]
William Missingham 1925 1932 6–7 years Ernest Buttenshaw [22]
David Drummond 1932 1949 16–17 years Michael Bruxner [23]
Roy Vincent 1950 1953 2–3 years [24]
Doug Dickson 1953 1958 4–5 years [25]
Charles Cutler 1958 1959 0–1 years Davis Hughes [26]
Bill Chaffey 1959 1968 8–9 years Charles Cutler [27]
Davis Hughes 1968 1973 4–5 years [11]
Leon Punch 1973 1975 1–2 years [13]
Tim Bruxner 1975 1981 5–6 years Leon Punch [28]
Wal Murray 1981 1984 2–3 years [14]
Ian Armstrong 4 April 1984 28 June 1993 9 years, 85 days Wal Murray [15]
George Souris 28 June 1993 14 January 1999 5 years, 200 days Ian Armstrong [16]
John Turner 14 January 1999 31 March 2003 4 years, 76 days George Souris [29]
Don Page 31 March 2003 28 March 2007 3 years, 362 days Andrew Stoner [30]
Andrew Fraser 28 March 2007 22 October 2008 1 year, 208 days [31]
Adrian Piccoli 22 October 2008 15 November 2016 8 years, 24 days [32]
Troy Grant
Niall Blair 15 November 2016 2 April 2019 2 years, 138 days John Barilaro [33]
Paul Toole 29 March 2019 6 October 2021 1 year, 208 days [34]
Bronnie Taylor 12 October 2021 Incumbent 2 years, 92 days Paul Toole [35]
Dugald Saunders

Election results

Election Seats won ± Total votes  % Position Leader
1927
13 / 90
 Increase4 100,963 8.89% NP-CP Coalition government Ernest Buttenshaw
1930
12 / 90
 Decrease1 126,779 9.56% Opposition
1932
23 / 90
 Increase11 175,862 13.16% UAP-CP Coalition government Michael Bruxner
1935
23 / 90
 – 162,178 12.92% UAP-CP Coalition government
1938
22 / 90
 Decrease1 164,045 13.86% UAP-CP Coalition government
1941
12 / 90
 Decrease10 153,639 11.05% Opposition
1944
10 / 90
 Decrease2 131,950 10.41% Opposition
1947
15 / 90
 Increase5 162,467 10.22% Opposition
1950
17 / 94
 Increase2 144,573 8.97% Opposition
1953
14 / 94
 Decrease3 179,680 11.6% Opposition
1956
15 / 94
 Increase1 172,020 10.16% Opposition
1959
16 / 94
 Increase1 148,738 8.71% Opposition Charles Cutler
1962
14 / 94
 Decrease2 180,640 9.37% Opposition
1965
16 / 94
 Increase2 208,826 10.23% LP-CP Coalition government
1968
17 / 94
 Increase1 229,656 10.62% LP-CP Coalition government
1971
17 / 96
 – 193,509 8.65% LP-CP Coalition government
1973
18 / 99
 Increase1 261,504 10.48% LP-CP Coalition government Leon Punch
1976
18 / 99
 – 270,603 10.03% Opposition
1978
17 / 99
 Decrease1 276,984 9.90% Opposition
1981
14 / 99
 Decrease3 314,841 11.21% Opposition
1984
15 / 99
 Increase1 266,095 8.85% Opposition
1988
20 / 109
 Increase5 440,482 13.74% LP-NP Coalition government Wal Murray
1991
17 / 99
 Decrease3 324,214 10.52% LP-NP Minority government
1995
17 / 99
 – 378,878 11.10% Opposition Ian Armstrong
1999
13 / 93
 Decrease4 331,343 8.87% Opposition George Souris
2003
12 / 93
 Decrease1 368,004 9.63% Opposition
2007
13 / 93
 Increase1 396,023 10.05% Opposition Andrew Stoner
2011
18 / 93
 Increase5 521,864 12.56% LP-NP Coalition government
2015
17 / 93
 Decrease1 464,653 10.55% LP-NP Coalition government Troy Grant
2019
13 / 93
 Decrease4 436,806 9.60% LP-NP Coalition government John Barilaro
2023
11 / 93
 Decrease2 403,962 8.59% Opposition Paul Toole

Notes

  1. ↑ The membership figures were reportedly 7,779 in 2011 and dropped to 5,802 by June 2019.[1] In 2021 it was reported by Crikey, citing supplied figures from the Grattan Institute, that the party's membership was numbered at 3,036, as of 2020.[2] The total membership figures of the Liberal–National Coalition in New South Wales are 14,942 as of 2020.
  2. ↑ The party name includes the periods in "N.S.W." according to the Australian Electoral Commission.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Hannam, Peter (4 October 2020). "'Shocked': quarter of Nationals members quit since coming to power". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  2. ↑ Hardaker, David (30 July 2021). "National party membership tumbles in NSW, Greens now have more". Crikey. Retrieved 3 June 2022.
  3. ↑ "National Party Constitution" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "Current register of political parties". Australian Electoral Commission. 22 March 2017.
  5. ↑ Davey, Paul (2006). The Nationals: The Progressive, Country, and National Party in New South Wales 1919–2006. Leichhardt: Federation Press. pp. 452–453.
  6. ↑ An abridged list of articles discussing neo-Nazi infiltration:
  7. ↑ "NSW Government in turmoil as 'betrayed' Nationals effectively leave Coalition over koala bill". abc.net.au. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  8. ↑ Smith, Alexandra (11 September 2020). "NSW Nationals back down after Berejiklian's ultimatum". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  9. 1 2 Aitkin, Don. "Bruxner, Sir Michael Frederick (1882–1970)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 5 April 2007.
  10. 1 2 Kingston, Beverley. "Buttenshaw, Ernest Albert (1876–1950)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Sir Davis Hughes (1910–2003)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  12. ↑ "Sir Charles Benjamin Cutler (1918–2006)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  13. 1 2 "The Hon. Leon Ashton Punch (1928–1991)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  14. 1 2 "Mr (Wal) Wallace Telford John Murray (1931-2004)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  15. 1 2 "The Hon. Ian Morton Armstrong". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  16. 1 2 "The Hon. George Souris". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
  17. ↑ "The Hon. Andrew John Stoner (1960- )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  18. ↑ "The Hon. Troy Wayne Grant (1970- )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  19. ↑ "The Hon. (John) Giovanni Domenic Barilaro, MP". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  20. ↑ "The Hon. Paul Lawrence Toole, MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  21. ↑ Piggin, Stuart. "Fleming, William Montgomerie (1874–1961)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  22. ↑ "Mr William Thomas Missingham (1868–1933)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 1 May 2019.
  23. ↑ Belshaw, Jim. "Drummond, David Henry (1890-1965)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  24. ↑ Sturma, Michael. "Vincent, Roy Stanley (1892–1965)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  25. ↑ "Mr Samuel Douglas Dickson (1894-1960)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  26. ↑ "Sir Charles Benjamin Cutler (1918–2006)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  27. ↑ Connors, Tom. "Chaffey, William Adolphus (Bill) (1915–1987)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISSN 1833-7538. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  28. ↑ "The Hon. James Caird Bruxner". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  29. ↑ "Mr John Harcourt Turner (1949- )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 September 2019.
  30. ↑ "The Hon. Donald Loftus Page". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 13 May 2019.
  31. ↑ "Mr Andrew Raymond Gordon Fraser, MP (1952 - )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  32. ↑ "Mr Adrian Piccoli (1970 - )". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  33. ↑ "The Hon. Niall Mark Blair MLC". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
  34. ↑ "The Hon. Paul Lawrence Toole MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  35. ↑ "The Hon. (Bronnie) Bronwyn Taylor, MLC". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
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