[7] In April 1999, Lawler advocated for improved compensation for disadvantaged people as part of the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax, breaking with the stance of his party.
[8][9] In July 1999, he supported Ian Causley against John Anderson for the National Party leadership, part of divisions reportedly over dissatisfaction with the direction of the federal Australia on economic rationalism and globalisation.
He later supported a plan by former leader Tim Fischer considering the possibility of selling it to fund infrastructure increases in the future if service benchmarks were met first.
[14][15][16] He repeatedly advocated for measures to address the impact of the drought on regional communities, and was outspoken about the urgent need to improve rural roads and infrastructure.
[22] On 28 February 2001, Lawler announced his pending retirement from politics after only one term, citing the amount of time spent away from his family and the impact on their lives.
He cited highlights of his parliamentary career as being the establishment of a rural clinical school in Dubbo and gaining mobile phone coverage for Condobolin.