New South Wales Deputy Premier Troy Grant has stood down from his position after his party, The Nationals, suffered a comprehensive shellacking in the Orange by-election on the weekend. We reported earlier this morning that the Nats had suffered a massive swing, and they’re currently fighting an uphill battle to keep the seat from falling to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.
Grant issued a statement saying he’s handing over the reins as a result of the disastrous by-election:
#BREAKING: @troygrant steps down as leader of the NSW Nationals in the wake of the Orange by-election. #9News pic.twitter.com/yyZV76ySIN
— Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) November 14, 2016
There’s currently no word on whether Grant will be keeping his position as Police Minister, though it’s safe to assume that he probably will be. Which isn’t great, as he has presided over a massive, unaccountable expansion of police powers and reduction in police accountability during his tenure.
Grant was likely to face a Nationals partyroom spill which he would have almost certainly lost, so its natural he stepped down. Now Mike Baird is without a deputy.
Source: Supplied.
Photo: Getty Images / Christopher Pearce.
