Paul Toole

Paul Lawrence Toole (born 2 August 1970) is an Australian politician. Toole was the Deputy Premier of New South Wales from 2021 to 2023, and the leader of the New South Wales Nationals from October 2021[4] to May 2023.[5]

The Honourable
Paul Toole
MP
19th Deputy Premier of New South Wales
In office
6 October 2021 – 28 March 2023
PremierDominic Perrottet
Preceded byJohn Barilaro
Succeeded byPrue Car
13th Leader of the National Party in New South Wales
In office
6 October 2021 – 8 May 2023
DeputyBronnie Taylor
Preceded byJohn Barilaro
Succeeded byDugald Saunders
Former Cabinet positions
Minister for Regional New South Wales
In office
6 October 2021 – 28 March 2023
PremierDominic Perrottet
Preceded byJohn Barilaro
Minister for Police
In office
21 December 2021 (2021-12-21) – 28 March 2023
LeaderDominic Perrottet
Preceded byDavid Elliott (as Minister for Police and Emergency Services)
Succeeded byYasmin Catley (as Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism)
20th Deputy Leader of the National Party in New South Wales
In office
29 March 2019 – 5 October 2021[lower-alpha 1]
LeaderJohn Barilaro
Preceded byNiall Blair
Succeeded byBronnie Taylor
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads
In office
2 April 2019 – 21 December 2021 (2021-12-21)
PremierGladys Berejiklian
Dominic Perrottet
Preceded byMelinda Pavey
Succeeded bySam Farraway
Minister for Lands and Forestry
In office
30 January 2017 – 23 March 2019
PremierGladys Berejiklian
Preceded bySteve Whan
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Minister for Racing
In office
30 January 2017 – 23 March 2019
PremierGladys Berejiklian
Preceded byTroy Grant
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Minister for Local Government
In office
23 April 2014 – 30 January 2017
PremierMike Baird
Preceded byDon Page
Succeeded byGabrielle Upton
Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Bathurst
Assumed office
26 March 2011
Preceded byGerard Martin
Former local government positions
Mayor of Bathurst
In office
September 2007 – September 2012
DeputyIan North
Preceded byNorm Mann
Succeeded byMonica Morse
Deputy Mayor of Bathurst
In office
March 2005 – September 2007
MayorNorm Mann
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byIan North
Member of the Evans Shire Council
In office
September 1995 – May 2004
Personal details
Born
Paul Lawrence Toole

(1970-08-02) 2 August 1970[1]
Peel, New South Wales, Australia[lower-alpha 2]
Political partyNational
Parent(s)Trevor Toole
Ellen Toole
Residence(s)Kelso, New South Wales[3]
Alma materMitchell College of Advanced Education (DipTeach)
Occupation
  • Teacher
  • Politician

Toole was the Minister for Regional New South Wales in the second Berejiklian and Perrottet ministries, from April 2019;[6][7][8] the New South Wales Minister for Police in the Perrottet ministry from December 2021,[9] and the New South Wales Shadow Minister for Police from March 2023.

He is a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly, representing Bathurst for the Nationals since 26 March 2011.

Toole was previously the Deputy Leader of the NSW Nationals between 2019 and 2021;[10] was the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads between April 2019 and December 2021; the Minister for Lands and Forestry and the Minister for Racing in the First Berejiklian ministry from January 2017 until March 2019; and the Minister for Local Government in the Second Baird ministry from April 2014 until January 2017.

Early years and background

Toole is one of nine children raised by Trevor and Ellen Toole, of Peel, a village outside Bathurst, in the central west of New South Wales. Toole's father was a thrice-unsuccessful candidate for state and federal political office, representing the National Party at the 1984 and 1995 state elections for Bathurst and the 1996 federal election, for Calare. Paul Toole's grandfather, Jack Toole, was an unsuccessful Liberal candidate at 1956 state election, also for Bathurst.[2] Two of Toole's brothers were jailed in 2012 for running a major drug syndicate in Newcastle,[11][12] and sentenced to seven and nine years in prison. They were each arrested again, one in 2022 in Newcastle[13] and one for dealing drugs in the Central West in 2020 and 2021, leading to a four-year prison sentence.[14][15]

In 1992, Toole began his school teaching career in Orange, New South Wales.[16] After teaching at two schools there, Toole taught at Assumption Primary School in Bathurst from 1995 to 2011.[17]

Political career

In 1995, Toole was elected a councillor to Evans Shire Council. Evans was amalgamated with Bathurst to create the Bathurst Regional Council in 2005. He was elected to the new Council that year, filling the post of deputy mayor.

Paul became mayor in 2007.[17]

On 30 October 2010, Toole was the sole nominee that sought and gained endorsement by the National Party as the candidate for the state seat of Bathurst.[18] At the March 2011 elections, Toole was elected and recorded a swing of 36.3 points – almost unheard of in Australian politics – in the traditionally Labor seat, winning 74.8% of the two-party vote[17][19] Toole's main competitor was Labor's Dale Turner; and his election followed the retirement of Labor member, Gerard Martin.[20] Toole picked up enough of a swing to turn Bathurst from safe Labor to safe National in one stroke.

Following his election to state parliament, Toole announced his decision to immediately retire from teaching and step down as Mayor in September 2011. He stated that he will remain on Council until the 2012 local government elections.[21]

Member of Parliament

Due to the ICAC related resignation of Barry O'Farrell as Premier,[22] and the subsequent ministerial reshuffle by Mike Baird, the new Liberal Leader,[23] in April 2014 Toole was promoted as the Minister for Local Government in the first Baird government;[24][25] and was reconfirmed as the Minister for Local Government in the second Baird ministry.[26]

Following the resignation of Baird as Premier,[27] Gladys Berejiklian was elected as Liberal leader and sworn in as Premier.[28][29][30] Toole was sworn in on 30 January 2017 as the Minister for Lands and Forestry and the Minister for Racing in the first Berejiklian ministry.[31] Following the 2019 state election, Niall Blair, the former Deputy Leader of the Nationals, announced his resignation from parliament. Toole contested the vacancy and was elected Deputy Leader. He was subsequently appointed as the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads in the second Berejiklian ministry, with effect from 2 April 2019.[32][33]

From the mid-2010s, the state government controversially began a program of amalgamating a number of NSW regional councils together, to address debt issues, with 152 regional councils being merged to 112 by 2016.[34] In 2021, Toole announced that 44 councils would be required to merge into 20, however, the councils challenged the action in court, and won.[35] The councils included areas of his own electorate (such as Oberon and Blayney), and attracted criticism from the likes of Alan Jones.[36]

National Party leadership
Further information: 2021 New South Wales National Party leadership ballot, Perrottet Government, and Deputy Premier

Following the resignation of NSW Nationals leader and Deputy Premier John Barilaro,[37] Melinda Pavey announced that she would contest the leadership. Toole later announced that he would run in the leadership contest, that was to take place the following day.[38]

On 6 October 2021, Toole successfully won the leadership contest against Pavey, 15–3. Bronnie Taylor was elected unopposed as his deputy.[39][40] Toole was sworn in as Deputy Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales, and Minister for Regional Transport and Roads. In a reorganisation of the Perrottet ministry, Toole was sworn in as Minister for Police, relinquishing the Regional Transport and Roads portfolio, with effect from 21 December 2021.[9] On the same day, Pavey was demoted from the ministry.

The 2023 New South Wales state election was held in March. The election was won by Labor with a strong swing, but the Nationals lost just one seat, with Toole retaining the seat of Bathurst.

In April 2023, Toole's leadership was challenged by Dugald Saunders. Toole won the initial leadership spill eight to seven (with one informal vote).[41] However, a further challenge saw Toole lose his leadership role to Saunders.[5] This came amid tensions about colleague Ben Franklin running for Upper House president and potentially leaving the Lower House, while being a friend of NSW Premier Chris Minns.[42] Toole remained in the Lower House as Shadow Minister for Police.

See also

Notes
  1. To run for the leadership contest, following its vacancy.
  2. Raised in Peel, not known if Toole was born there.[2]

References
  1. "Minister for Regional Transport and Roads". Hansard. 1 August 2019.
  2. "Rising son: this one's for you, Dad". Western Advocate. 29 March 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  3. "The Hon. Paul Toole MP". nswnationals.org.au. National Party – New South Wales.
  4. "Paul Toole wins NSW Nationals leadership vote, becomes new Deputy Premier". ABC News. 6 October 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.
  5. Cockburn, Paige (8 May 2023). "Turmoil within the NSW Nationals ends Paul Toole's leadership". ABC News. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  6. "Government Notices (30)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 2 April 2019. p. 1088-1090. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  7. "Premier announces new Cabinet" (Press release). Premier of New South Wales. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  8. Han, Sophie (2 April 2019). "Berejiklian's new massive cabinet sworn in amid peals of laughter". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  9. "Parliament, Ministerial, Courts and Police (662)" (PDF). Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales. 21 December 2021.
  10. Visentin, Lisa (29 March 2019). "NSW Nationals appoint Paul Toole as new deputy leader". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  11. "Lengthy jail time for MP's siblings". Western Advocate. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  12. "MP's brothers jailed over drugs". The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 September 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  13. "NSW deputy premier Paul Toole's younger brother charged with being part of drug ring". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 12 October 2022. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  14. "'He is not a bikie': Police minister's brother's strict confinement questioned as he awaits drug supply sentence". ABC News. 6 February 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  15. "Kurt Toole, brother of NSW Nationals leader, receives four-year jail sentence for dealing ice, cocaine". ABC News. 5 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  16. "Mr Paul Lawrence TOOLE, DipTeach MP". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  17. Green, Antony (1 April 2011). "Electorate of Bathurst". NSW Votes 2011. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  18. Stoner, Andrew (30 October 2010). "Bathurst Mayor Paul Toole to put an end to Labor's neglect" (Press release). National Party. Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  19. "Paul Toole wins seat of Bathurst". Western Advocate. 26 March 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  20. Stevenson, Andrew (29 March 2011). "Bathurst resident's historic swing his alone". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  21. Eddy, Louise (29 March 2011). "Career change for our new MP". Western Advocate. Retrieved 2 April 2011.
  22. "Barry O'Farrell quits as NSW Premier over memory fail". The Australian. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  23. Nicholls, Sean (22 April 2014). "Mike Baird's cabinet reshuffle a preparation for next election". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  24. "Paul Toole enters cabinet". Western Advocate. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  25. "Mike Baird's NSW cabinet". The Sydney Morning Herald. 22 April 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  26. Hasham, Nicole (3 April 2015). "Premier Mike Baird's new NSW cabinet sworn in: Gladys Berejiklian and Gabrielle Upton first female Treasurer and Attorney-General". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  27. Jacques, Owen (19 January 2017). "Baird resigns: NSW Premier to quit top job and Parliament". The Satellite. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
  28. "Swearing-In of The Honourable Gladys Berejiklian MP, the 45th Premier of New South Wales, and The Honourable John Barilaro MP, Deputy Premier". Vice Regal Program. Governor of New South Wales. 23 January 2017. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  29. "Ministers". www.parliament.nsw.gov.au. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  30. Clennell, Andrew (26 January 2017). "Premier Gladys Berejiklian plans major reshuffle for cabinet". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  31. "Refreshed NSW cabinet sworn in". Sky News. Australia. AAP. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
  32. "The Hon. Paul Lawrence TOOLE, DipTeach MP". Members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
  33. Sas, Nick (31 March 2019). "Gladys Berejiklian says Liberal Party has no women problem as re-elected NSW Premier shuffles Cabinet". ABC News. Australia. Retrieved 3 April 2019.
  34. Hunjan, Raveen (20 September 2016). "Win for NSW councils after two forced mergers set aside". ABC News. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  35. Halstead, Sue Young, Brian (11 May 2021). "With NSW mega councils bleeding red ink, give communities a say on breaking up mergers". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  36. October 05; 2021 – 9:52 pm (5 October 2021), Paul Toole a 'sell-out' for council amalgamation backflip: Alan Jones, retrieved 15 July 2023
  37. Cormack, Lucy; Rabe, Tom (4 October 2021). "John Barilaro to resign as NSW Deputy Premier". Sydney Morning Herald.
  38. Hevesi, Bryant (4 October 2021). "Melinda Pavey launches bid to become next leader of NSW Nationals after John Barilaro's resignation". skynews.com.au.
  39. Tatham, Harriet (October 2021). "Paul Toole wins NSW Nationals leadership vote, becomes new Deputy Premier". ABC News.
  40. Cormack, Lucy; Rabe, Tom (6 October 2021). "Paul Toole to become new deputy premier and leader of the NSW Nationals". Sydney Morning Herald.
  41. Raper, Ashleigh (5 April 2023). "Paul Toole survives close party room vote to remain NSW Nationals leader". ABC News. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  42. Kennedy, Jean; Roe (3 May 2023). "Nationals leader won't rule out expulsion over Ben Franklin president offer". ABC News. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
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