UPDATED 6.40pm NSW Deputy Premier and leader of the NSW Nationals Andrew Stoner is to retire from politics at the 2015 state election.
Hospitality Minister Troy Grant, the member for Dubbo, is the leading candidate to take the leadership after deputy leader Adrian Piccoli ruled himself out this evening.
Mr Stoner, the member for the Mid North Coast seat of Oxley, has served in the NSW Parliament since 1999 and as Nationals leader since 2003.
At a lunchtime news conference on Wednesday, Mr Stoner said he would step down as Nationals leader on Thursday morning, after which a ballot for the Nationals leadership will be held and a new Deputy Premier elected.
Mr Piccoli, also Education Minister, was initially reported to be a challenger to Mr Grant. However, he released a statement this evening confirming he will support Mr Grant in the ballot.
Mr Piccoli will continue in his current role of deputy leader and member for Murrumbidgee.
Nationals federal leader Warren Truss said he was very sorry to see Mr Stoner leave politics.
"Andrew Stoner ... has played a central role with two Premiers in transforming NSW (into) a can-do place where ambitious projects can be undertaken and delivered on time.
"He has been an exemplary leader of the NSW Nationals. The Party has almost doubled its numbers in the State parliament under his leadership.
"He will be sadly missed by the Party," Mr Truss said.
The news follows the announcement by former NSW Liberal energy minister Chris Hartcher earlier on Wednesday that he will also retire at next year's poll.
Coffs Harbour MP Andrew Fraser said he was surprised at how quickly the leadership change was happening, with Mr Stoner's replacement for after the election expected to be announced on tomorrow morning.
Mr Fraser said even with this short turnaround, it was still "far too early" to say who the next Nationals leader would be.
Country Labor spokesman for Primary Industries Steve Whan wished Mr Stoner all the best in his retirement, but said another senior member of the government standing down was not a great look.
"This government has had a lot of changes at the top level (with several MPs and former Premier Barry O'Farrell standing down after fronting ICAC).
"It is not providing the stability it promised."
Mr Whan said he expected either Troy Grant or Adrian Piccoli to be named as the next leader of the Nationals.
Either way, he thought Country Labor was well positioned to make a stronger showing in the 2015 election in seats such as Monaro, Ballina, Lismore and Maitland.
"The instability we've seen in this government might make people take a closer look at what we can offer," he said.
NSW Nationals chairman Bede Burke said the party had grown in stature under Mr Stoner's leadership.
"It’s been a long ride for Andrew, after coming to the leadership in 2003 when The Nationals had been in opposition for almost a decade," Mr Burke said.
In 2011, the Nationals had their strongest election results since the 1930s, he said.
"Andrew has been a steady and patient hand at the wheel at a critical time in our history. He has served the people of NSW and the members of The Nationals with distinction, and I wish him and Cathy well in his retirement.
"Andrew has indicated that he will not be contesting the seat of Oxley at the next state election, and the Nationals will preselect another candidate for that electorate in due course," Mr Burke said.
More to come.
