New South Wales Nationals leader Dugald Saunders has unexpectedly stepped down from his leadership role after less than three years in the position, sending shockwaves through state political circles.
Sudden Resignation Shocks Colleagues
Saunders announced his immediate resignation on Monday, telling colleagues he needed to focus on family matters. The decision came as a surprise to many within the coalition government, with the MP for Dubbo stating "It's a difficult decision but it is the right time for me to take a step back."
The timing of his resignation followed the appearance of his 19-year-old daughter in an online documentary about the adult industry. However, a spokesperson for Saunders insisted this was purely coincidental, with The Australian reporting that multiple family members are currently battling serious illness.
Family Matters and Political Fallout
Saunders' daughter, who used the pseudonym Willow in the documentary titled "Spicy Summer: Bondi Beach," discussed her involvement in adult content creation but made no mention of her father's high-profile political position. In the film, she explained how young women are increasingly drawn to platforms like OnlyFans, stating "No girl's growing up say they want to be Taylor Swift because that would never happen. But we can be like the OnlyFans girls. We can get rich like they have."
Meanwhile, Premier Chris Minns praised opposition leader Mark Speakman, Saunders' coalition partner, for maintaining his position on climate policy. "Mark Speakman deserves credit. I mean he's taken a principled position here," Minns said. "He's gone to the last few elections on a net zero platform. He's not prepared to abandon that position just because the Commonwealth parties have decided to split."
Coalition Rift Over Climate Policy
The resignation occurs during growing tension within the coalition over net zero targets. While the NSW Liberals continue to support climate targets, the federal coalition has abandoned the policy - a move Saunders had supported "in principle."
Leaked polling reveals that voters in nearly all 24 NSW Liberal seats support maintaining the net zero by 2050 commitment. However, National Party electorates remain divided on the issue, highlighting the challenge facing the coalition partners.
The net zero debate will take center stage at Tuesday morning's extended Liberal party room meeting. While NSW Liberals appear united on climate policy, this unity may not be enough to secure Speakman's leadership position. Saunders' resignation has increased speculation about potential leadership challenges before year's end.
As the Liberals confront this critical party room meeting, the Nationals will simultaneously elect their new leader, marking a significant moment for both parties in the coalition government.
