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.
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]
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's friendship with NSW Labor premier
Chris Minns, and his intent to run for Upper House president and leave the Lower House.[42] Toole remained in the Lower House as Shadow Minister for Police.