Dugald Saunders steps down as NSW Nationals leader with speculation the Liberals’ Mark Speakman could follow

Saunders says ‘it is the right time for me to take a step back and focus on my family and myself’, week after state Nationals dump net zero commitment

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates

• Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast

The New South Wales Nationals leader, Dugald Saunders, has stepped down from the role ahead of a party room meeting, citing family reasons.

It comes as the state Coalition faces similar turmoil to its federal counterpart over climate policy. The NSW Nationals voted last week to abandon a net zero emissions target by 2050.