National Party of Australia – NSW

The National Party of Australia – N.S.W.[lower-alpha 1] , commonly known as the NSW Nationals, is a political party in New South Wales which forms the state branch of the federal Nationals. Traditionally representing graziers, farmers and rural voters generally, it 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.

National Party of Australia – N.S.W.
LeaderJohn Barilaro
Deputy LeaderPaul Toole
Founded1919
Youth wingYoung Nationals
Membership (2020)5,802[1]
IdeologyConservatism
Agrarianism[2]
Political positionCentre-right
ColoursGreen and Yellow
Legislative Assembly
12 / 93
Legislative Council
6 / 42
House of
Representatives
7 / 46
(NSW seats)
Senate
2 / 12
(NSW seats)
Website
nswnationals.org.au
John Barilaro, the party's current leader and Deputy Premier of New South Wales.

The party, commonly referred to as "The Nationals," 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). 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.

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. As a measure of the Coalition's 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.

History

Name changes
  • 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.[4]

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. The leader of the NSW Nationals, John Barilaro, 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".[5]

2020 Attempt to move to the crossbench

On the 10th of September 2020, the Nationals NSW declared they will no longer support the legislation of the NSW Liberal Party, and are moving to the crossbenches in Parliament. This was caused due to a new planning proposal which looks to strengthen land clearing for agricultural activities which threatens endangered koala populations, for which they disagree with.[6] On the morning of the 11th the Nationals backed down and rejoined the government.[7]

Leaders of the New South Wales National Party

This is a list of the Leaders of the National Party of Australia in New South Wales.

Party LeaderStart of TermEnd of TermDeputy Premier
Sir Michael Bruxner19211925
Ernest Buttenshaw19251932
Sir Michael Bruxner193219581932–1941
Sir Davis Hughes19581959
Sir Charles Cutler195919751965–1975
Leon Punch197519851975–1976
Wal Murray198519931988–1993
Ian Armstrong199319991993–1995
George Souris19992003
Andrew Stoner200320142011–2014
Troy Grant201420162014–2016
John Barilaro2016incumbentincumbent

Deputy Leaders of the New South Wales National Party
Deputy LeaderStart of TermEnd of Term
William Fleming19221922
Ernest Buttenshaw19221925
William Missingham19251932
David Drummond19321949
Roy Vincent19501953
Doug Dickson19531958
Sir Charles Cutler19581959
Bill Chaffey19591968
Davis Hughes19681973
Leon Punch19731975
Tim Bruxner19751981
Wal Murray19811984
Ian Armstrong19841993
George Souris19931999
John Turner19992003
Don Page20032007
Andrew Fraser20072008
Adrian Piccoli20082016
Niall Blair20162019
Paul Toole2019Incumbent

State election results
Election Seats won ± Total votes % Position Leader
1927
13 / 90
 4 100,963 8.89% NP-CP Coalition government Ernest Buttenshaw
1930
12 / 90
 1 126,779 9.56% Opposition Ernest Buttenshaw
1932
23 / 90
 11 175,862 13.16% UAP-CP Coalition government Michael Bruxner
1935
23 / 90
 – 162,178 12.92% UAP-CP Coalition government Michael Bruxner
1938
22 / 90
 1 164,045 13.86% UAP-CP Coalition government Michael Bruxner
1941
12 / 90
 10 153,639 11.05% Opposition Michael Bruxner
1944
10 / 90
 2 131,950 10.41% Opposition Michael Bruxner
1947
15 / 90
 5 162,467 10.22% Opposition Michael Bruxner
1950
17 / 94
 2 144,573 8.97% Opposition Michael Bruxner
1953
14 / 94
 3 179,680 11.6% Opposition Michael Bruxner
1956
15 / 94
 1 172,020 10.16% Opposition Michael Bruxner
1959
16 / 94
 1 148,738 8.71% Opposition Charles Cutler
1962
14 / 94
 2 180,640 9.37% Opposition Charles Cutler
1965
16 / 94
 2 208,826 10.23% LP-CP Coalition government Charles Cutler
1968
17 / 94
 1 229,656 10.62% LP-CP Coalition government Charles Cutler
1971
17 / 96
 – 193,509 8.65% LP-CP Coalition government Charles Cutler
1973
18 / 99
 1 261,504 10.48% LP-CP Coalition government Leon Punch
1976
18 / 99
 – 270,603 10.03% Opposition Leon Punch
1978
17 / 99
 1 276,984 9.90% Opposition Leon Punch
1981
14 / 99
 3 314,841 11.21% Opposition Leon Punch
1984
15 / 99
 1 266,095 8.85% Opposition Leon Punch
1988
20 / 109
 5 440,482 13.74% LP-NP Coalition government Wal Murray
1991
17 / 99
 3 324,214 10.52% LP-NP Minority government Wal Murray
1995
17 / 99
 – 378,878 11.10% Opposition Ian Armstrong
1999
13 / 93
 4 331,343 8.87% Opposition George Souris
2003
12 / 93
 1 368,004 9.63% Opposition George Souris
2007
13 / 93
 1 396,023 10.05% Opposition Andrew Stoner
2011
18 / 93
 5 521,864 12.56% LP-NP Coalition government Andrew Stoner
2015
17 / 93
 1 464,653 10.55% LP-NP Coalition government Troy Grant
2019
13 / 93
 4 401,718 9.87% LP-NP Coalition government John Barilaro

Notes
  1. The party name includes the periods in "N.S.W." according to the Australian Electoral Commission.[3]

References
  1. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/shocked-quarter-of-nationals-members-quit-since-coming-to-power-20201002-p561jz.html
  2. "National Party Constitution" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 April 2013. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  3. "Current register of political parties". Australian Electoral Commission. 22 March 2017.
  4. Davey, Paul (2006). The Nationals: The Progressive, Country, and National Party in New South Wales 1919–2006. Leichhardt: Federation Press. pp. 452–453.
  5. An abridged list of articles discussing neo-Nazi infiltration:
  6. "NSW Government in turmoil as 'betrayed' Nationals effectively leave Coalition over koala bill". www.abc.net.au. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  7. Smith, Alexandra (11 September 2020). "NSW Nationals back down after Berejiklian's ultimatum". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
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