NSW Nationals' Paul Toole has narrowly survived a leadership challenge from a former agriculture minister and ABC broadcaster, as two of the party's four women take leadership roles.
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The Bathurst MP and former deputy premier won a partyroom ballot nine votes to seven from fancied Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders after MPs met in NSW parliament for the first time since last month's election loss.
"The work for the NSW National Party begins again today," Mr Toole told reporters on Wednesday.
"This is about making sure that in four years' time, we are in a position to ensure we are going after those seats (the party formerly held), whether it's Monaro, Murray, Barwon or Orange."
When asked why regional residents should trust him when he didn't have the party's full support, Mr Toole pointed to the state election results.
Labor generated a 5.5 per cent swing away from the coalition but the Nationals' primary vote only dipped 0.9 per cent and seven MPs, including himself, had swings towards them.
His challenger, Mr Saunders is a former radio presenter and sports broadcaster who entered politics in 2019 and later served as agriculture minister.
Ahead of the vote, he was seen having coffee outside parliament with several MPs including former ministers Bronnie Taylor and Sarah Mitchell.
Ms Taylor, who retained the deputy leadership, played down the meeting and said Mr Saunders was her friend.
"What's important is in the National Party, everyone gets a vote and the majority of the party room said they want Paul Toole to be their leader," she said.
"So I will absolutely back that in 100 per cent."
Former education minister Sarah Mitchell, elected leader in the upper house, and Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh, re-elected as whip, also confirmed their support for Mr Toole.
"We've made a decision and on we go as a united team," Ms Mitchell said.
While unable to win back former strongholds of Murray, Barwon and Orange, the Nationals retained all but one of its 12 lower house seats in the March 25 poll.
The loss of Monaro MP Nichole Overall has however reduced the proportion of women in the party room to 25 per cent, despite women making up a record 40 per cent of candidates.
"We often say ... you can't be what you can't see and here you see Paul Toole, myself and Sarah," Ms Taylor said.
"It's about getting those women (candidates) that sort of profile and that sort of exposure that would have actually really helped them. The Nats had more women, I'm the first deputy leader in the 100 years of this party.
"I know that made a difference. Women say to me, 'I've seen what you've done for me, now I want to have a crack.'"
Meanwhile, the Liberals remain leaderless after Mr Perrottet's election resignation.
The Liberal Party is still waiting on the results of the seat of Ryde, where Jordan Lane is 135 votes ahead of Labor's Lyndal Howison, with 87 per cent of the counted.
Election hopes of former Howard government adviser Rachel Merton, ranked seventh on the coalition's upper house ballot, are firming as postal votes are counted.
Australian Associated Press
