Troy Grant might not have a lot of political experience but the former rural cop has spent his first day on the beat as deputy NSW premier proving he won't be a pushover.
After just six months as a minister, Mr Grant was on Thursday elected unopposed by his Nationals colleagues as leader of the party, replacing Andrew Stoner as deputy premier.
Mr Grant, 44, who entered parliament in 2011, admits that he wouldn't have dreamed of assuming such high office so early in his career.
"I have often described myself as the accidental politician," he said.
The Dubbo MP served as a police inspector for more than two decades, twice receiving Commendations for Courage, before going into politics.
He says the experience has prepared him well for his new leadership position.
But Opposition Leader John Robertson isn't convinced.
The Labor leader said Mr Grant lacked the experience necessary for the job.
"I think police do a great job but politics is a vastly different job to being a police officer," he said.
"That's not to say that police officers can't make great politicians but it's like any job: you need experience in the position (and) you need to understand what's going on."
Mr Robertson entered parliament in late 2008 and was made opposition leader after just two and a half years at Macquarie Street.
Mr Grant later took a swipe at the Labor leader about an alleged $3 million bribe that he was offered and refused, as a union leader.
"You're a very lucky man that that matter didn't come before me when I was in the cops because you would've been in the dock," Mr Grant said during question time.
The deputy premier's position was vacated by Mr Stoner who made the shock announcement on Wednesday that he was retiring at the March election for family reasons.
Mr Grant's elevation was all but sealed after colleague Adrian Piccoli, who was considered to be a genuine rival, opted not to run.
As deputy premier, Mr Grant can now pick his own portfolio which could force Premier Mike Baird to reshuffle his cabinet yet again in what has been a tumultuous year for the coalition government.
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