Koala wars: Infighting within the NSW government continues over coalition split
Premier Gladys Berejiklian says it is up to backbench Nationals MPs to decide if they cross the floor or move to the crossbench over concerns with koala protection rules, but all Nationals ministers will support government legislation.
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Premier Gladys Berejiklian says it is up to backbench Nationals MPs to decide if they cross the floor or move to the crossbench over concerns with koala protection rules, but all Nationals ministers will support government legislation.
Dismissing a cabinet rift between senior Liberal ministers and Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Ms Berejiklian said her government will “absolutely” continue working intact.
The Premier brushed off questions about Mr Barilaro, saying she was focused on the job of governing.
“In case anybody noticed we are in the middle of a pandemic,” she said.
She said it’s not a breach of the Coalition agreement for backbenchers to vote against the government in parliament.
“What assurance I have is that we will have a Coalition between now and the election and that all ministers will support government legislation.”
It comes as treasurer Dominic Perrottet played down tensions in the cabinet over Mr Barilaro’s abandoned threats to sit on the crossbench.
Mr Perrottet said the events of last week were “embarrassing,” and “a distraction that shouldn’t have happened”.
However the Treasurer said the Deputy Premier is a “strong advocate for regional and rural NSW,” saying “I will work with John Barilaro”.
That’s the strongest public defence of Mr Barilaro from a Liberal cabinet minister since the Nationals backed down from a threat to boycott government legislation unless concerns with koala protection rules are addressed.
“We aren’t always going to agree, there’s going to be tension but that’s been dealt with and we move on and that’s what the people of NSW expect,” Mr Perrottet said.
Mr Barilaro has been defended by senior Nationals ministers.
However, Paul Toole — the Deputy Nationals Leader and someone touted by Liberals as a potential challenger to John Barilaro — has refused to rule out putting his hand up for the leadership if it was vacated.
“I think John will continue on as the leader, so I probably won’t get into speculation and all of that,” Mr Toole told ABC radio.
“I love being Deputy Leader.”
Customer Service Minister Victor Dominello said he will “work with whoever the national party give us as leader”.
Mr Dominello also said leaders should be humble.
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on Mr Barilaro’s leadership ahead of a crucial parliamentary sitting tomorrow, with multiple cabinet ministers calling on him to resign, despite the Premier demanding distractions stop.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance, Police Minister David Elliott, and Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres all declined to endorse Mr Barilaro’s leadership yesterday, openly criticising his threats to implode the government over koala protection rules.
However the Deputy Premier is staring down the Liberals’ criticism, telling them to “put up or shut up”.
“I’ll be in cabinet … and I’ll be as vocal as always,” he said.
“If you don’t like it, you know where the door is.”
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His closest allies in the Nationals leadership group were forced to speak out in defence of their leader yesterday.
Water Minister Melinda Pavey, touted as a possible challenger to Mr Barilaro, said: “John was doing what the party room asked him to do. I support the leader.”
Mr Barilaro was also backed by Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor, who said: “There are no moves to replace him as leader.”
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall and Mr Barilaro’s deputy Paul Toole — both also touted by Liberals as leadership contenders — have not made any public comment.
This came after Police Minister David Elliott suggested Liberal ministers may refuse to work with the Nationals in cabinet if Mr Barilaro remained in his position.
Calling Mr Barilaro’s position “untenable,” Mr Elliott said the National Party “needs to consider who their leader is because he doesn’t have their best interests at heart”.
Meanwhile Transport Minister Andrew Constance said Mr Barilaro’s leadership was “a matter for his conscience”.
Asked if he was happy to work with the current Nationals leader, Mr Constance said “after Friday, I’m finding it really hard to answer that”.
Another senior Liberal source said Mr Barilaro needed to face consequences for years of destabilising behaviour.
Those comments came just minutes after Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned her ministers to not cause distractions by criticising their colleagues.
“What I don’t want is people of any description to think they can publicly air issues, at the risk of creating any sort of distraction for the community,” she said.
She indicated she had made no compromises to Mr Barilaro in a dramatic Friday morning meeting in which he was told to back the cabinet process or face the sack.
During that meeting, there was acknowledgment that the koala protection rules needed to be looked at. There is now a greater concern in the government about the rules.
National MPs want the guidelines changed amid concerns they unfairly restrict how farmers use their land.