NSW Nationals leader to take personal leave

NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro will take personal leave one week after he threatened to blow up the Coalition over a koala protection policy.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro is taking four weeks’ leave. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro will step down to take personal leave, a week after he threatened to blow up the Coalition over a koala protection policy.

Sky News reports the leave is due to mental health.

“This afternoon Deputy Premier John Barilaro advised me he would take four weeks of personal leave,” NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a statement.

“I have offered him any support he may need.

“I wish John and his family all the best during this time.”

Deputy leader of the Nationals Paul Toole will be NSW Deputy Premier while Mr Barilaro is on leave for a month.

John Barilaro is taking leave for a month after a tumultuous week for the leader of the Nationals. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Mr Barilaro was heavily criticised this past week over his approach to a policy designed to protect koala habitat that he said would limit farmers.

His sensational threat to the government last Thursday was that the 13 members of the Nationals in the Coalition would effectively sit on the crossbench and vote separately to the Liberals if the koala policy was not abandoned.

But within 24 hours, he backed down in an embarrassing about-face when NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian refused to budge.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian did not abandon the government’s koala protection policy after John Barilaro’s threat. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

She said she would swear in an all-Liberal ministry if he followed through on his threat.

The Daily Telegraph cites a source close to Mr Barilaro as saying he had been through a lot this year, including losing his father.

“After nine months of helping people rebuild their lives after the worst fires in history, after dealing with farmers who have just faced the worst drought on record and compounded with losing his father a month ago, it’s time for a rest,” the source reportedly said.

The policy at the centre of the political turmoil moved the number of trees considered core koala habitat from about 10 to about 120, which the Nationals said would limit farmers. Picture: Alex Coppel

The koala policy – called the State Environment Planning Policy – would raise the amount of trees considered core koala habitat from 10 species to more than 120.

It is due to be debated by the Coalition on October 6 — which means Mr Barilaro will miss the key meeting on the policy he almost blew up the government over.

Originally published as NSW Nationals leader to take personal leave