New state Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh says he will not rule out anything ahead of negotiations with the Liberal Party over net zero by 2050, and says nuclear energy “must be on the table”.

After an uncontested ballot at 8.30am on Tuesday, Singh, the member for Coffs Harbour, emerged as the party’s new leader, less than 24 hours after Dubbo MP Dugald Saunders abruptly resigned. Kevin Anderson, the member for Tamworth, was elected deputy unopposed.

Shortly after Singh emerged as leader, the NSW Liberals signed off on net zero by 2050.

In his first press conference, Singh said he would not “rule anything in or out” when it came to the emissions reduction target. With mounting speculation about Mark Speakman’s grip on the job of opposition leader, Singh said he would “work with the Liber

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