The man responsible for overseeing NSW agriculture and managing threats like fire ants has departed abruptly from his role.
Scott Hansen was two months away from marking a decade as the director general of the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) when it was announced on Friday that he was leaving.
The reason for the change, made by Regional NSW secretary Rebecca Fox, was not immediately given.
"The department thanks Mr Hansen for his service and significant commitment through some of the toughest conditions NSW's primary producers and our regional communities have faced during the past 10 years," a departmental spokesman said in a statement.
The former Meat and Livestock Australia director came to the role under the former coalition government, overseeing about 2000 staff across the regions, including the state government's largest research service.
He also oversaw recent biosecurity responses as the state encountered the bee-killing varroa mite and a northern intrusion of deadly fire ants.
The work the department did for regional NSW was immeasurable, state Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said.
"There are some serious questions that must be asked of the Minns Labor government around Scott's sudden departure from the role and also about the future of DPI and the Department of Regional NSW," he said.
"It is no secret that Chris Minns' government has a complete disregard for regional communities and that the needs of those communities are simply not a priority."
Regional NSW said it remained committed to delivering high-quality services to primary industries.
Deputy director general Sean Sloan will step into the director-general role as the department looks for a new leader.
A spokesman for Agriculture and Regional NSW Minister Tara Moriarty said matters of staffing were for the secretary, not the minister.
