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Sydney news: Nationals to vote on new leader, judge's comments in Nick Drummond case displayed outside court

Here's what you need to know this morning.

Nationals leadership ballot

Nationals MP Paul Toole says he wants to continue the strong work John Barilaro has done. (AAP: Stefanie Menezes )

Newly installed NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet will get a deputy today, with Regional Roads Minister Paul Toole almost certain to have the numbers in this morning's National partyroom secret ballot.

It comes after Nationals' leader John Barilaro announced on Monday he was quitting state politics.

There are two leadership candidates vying for deputy premier, with frontbencher Melinda Pavey up against Mr Toole.

He said he's taking nothing for granted but is ready for the role, and has worked closely with the new Premier in the past.

"Look, I never say you've got numbers because you never know. This will be a decision that will be made by the party room today, and all I can do is put my best foot forward," he told the ABC.

"I'll put my hand up for the position, and whatever the outcome I think it's important that we focus on people, that we focus on communities and we make sure that we support businesses re-opening their doors."

COVID-19 roadmap

On his first day on the job, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has suggested there may be some changes to the state's COVID-19 roadmap.

From Monday, fully vaccinated people will be able to return to hospitality venues, the gym, and have five visitors at their home.

Mr Perrottet has confirmed that while he won't bring the eased restrictions forward, he's not ruling out making some adjustments to help businesses.

“I had a meeting yesterday with the health minister and am meeting with health officials this morning to see where some tweaks and changes could be made so that obviously as we open up, we open up safely, but we provide opportunity for people," he said.

"There are many workers, businesses right across the state who have made enormous sacrifices, who are struggling and we want to get them back on their feet as quickly as possible.”

Judge's comments put on billboards

Four billboards with the judge's controversial comments were displayed outside the Downing Centre. (Supplied: Ovira)

The controversial comments of a judge who recently spared a former Knox Grammar student from conviction have been put on display on billboards outside a court in Sydney.

Last month Justice Robert Sutherland erased the convictions of Nick Drummond, who drunkenly punched two people on a night out in Sydney last year, one being a woman who he called a "slut" and told to "put your tits away".

Women's groups condemned many of the comments made by Justice Sutherland in his judgment, including that the outfit the woman was wearing could have been perceived as "provocative" and Mr Drummond should "thank his lucky stars" that his conviction was being wiped.

The judge told Nick Drummond to "thank your lucky stars" and "good luck with the coaching". (Supplied: Ovira)

"This sort of decision sends a very dangerous message to the community and a very permissive message to those who choose to use domestic and sexual violence and victim-blaming," said chief executive of Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia Hayley Foster.

Some of the judge's comments, such as "good luck with the coaching", have now been put on mobile billboards by women's health company Ovira and driven around the Downing Centre in the CBD.

A campaign called Thank Your Lucky Stars has also been launched to raise money for women's daytime refuge Lou's Place, Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia and the KYUP! Project, a violence prevention program for teens.

Country hospitals subjected to 'years of neglect'

Ms Garemyn said evidence of the health system's problems is shorter life expectancies in the bush.  (Supplied)

One of the largest women's organisations in Australia has warned a state parliamentary inquiry that funding is urgently needed to resurrect rural and regional healthcare.

The Country Women's Association (CWA) will be among 14 witnesses due to give evidence at the eleventh hearing today, and has used its submission to say that country hospitals have been subjected to "years of neglect". 

CWA policy manager Adair Garemyn said all the work that had been done so far had not fixed the healthcare system. 

"There's been some recent efforts in terms of hospital upgrades but it's obviously just not enough," she said.

"The issues are still very much there. There's a lot of evidence that health outcomes and life expectancy is less in the bush so obviously what we're doing is not enough."

Farm quarantine a possibility

NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall says investigations are underway into whether foreign workers arriving in the country to do agricultural work could safely quarantine on farms.

Around 500 foreign workers will arrive from Vanuatu and the Solomon Island this month under a scheme to boost farm workers.

The sector has faced critical shortages in farm workers, because there are no backpackers arriving in the country due to international border closures.

Mr Marshall says he's asked his department to examine how foreign workers could avoid costly hotel quarantine rates, including the possibility of staying on farms for their period of isolation.

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