Berejiklian sacks Catherine Cusack for voting against koala habitat bill

NSW Labor has said the Deputy Premier is the real winner of the failed koala protection policy, after Liberal Catherine Cusack was fired on Thursday for crossing the floor.

The koala war is over according to Nationals leader John Barilaro, who will now back cash handouts for land owners to protect the vulnerable species.

After months of political brinkmanship, the controversial planning policy which has torn apart the Coalition has been junked for good.

Until new ways to protect koalas are decided next year, the state government will go back to using a 25-year-old planning policy that will reduce the recently expanded number of protected “feed trees” from 123 back to 10.

NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

The Nationals consistently argued the expanded the number of protected trees would limit farmers’ land use and ability to rezone areas for development.

Having declared a win for farmers’ property rights, Mr Barilaro will next year champion “stewardship payments” for private landholders to lock up and preserve important koala habitat.

“We’re not environmental vandals,” Mr Barilaro said.

“We have to do something about protecting the koala population and protecting their habitat but that should not be done through planning.

“This is a great opportunity to look at stewardship payments for private landholders to do conservation on their land.”

Upper house Liberal Catherine Cusack was dumped as parliamentary secretary on Thursday night for voting against a compromise bill that would have increased koala protections but excluded farmers and private forestry landholdings.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro caused a storm in the government when he publicly opposed the policy. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Damian Shaw

Ms Cusack did not believe the compromise bill went far enough to protect koalas.

Mr Barilaro does not hold a grudge against Ms Cusack for crossing the floor, even though Ms Cusack called for Mr Barilaro’s resignation two months ago for threatening to do the same.

“I don’t begrudge her,” Mr Barilaro said.

“She genuinely believed in what she was doing.

“Six weeks ago I was willing to take the party to the crossbench.

“But she is a Liberal party member and you can’t enjoy the benefits of the party without showing unity to the party.”

While the ultimate outcome was a resounding win for the Nationals, Mr Barilaro said Ms Cusack needlessly voted against her own government after a raft of eleventh hour concessions to protect sensitive ecosystems.

Catherine Cusack has been sacked as parliamentary secretary. Picture: Richard Dobson

Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall revealed he had “reached out” to Ms Cusack after a controversial clause the Nationals had inserted in the bill was later “tweaked” to the satisfaction of Planning Minister Rob Stokes.

He said Ms Cusack thanked him for clarifying the change only to proceed to cross the floor.

Despite her actions, Mr Marshall said he believed both the majority of Liberals and Nationals were in agreement over protecting koalas and farmers’ right to farm.

“The caveat going forward will be protecting farmers’ right to farm,” Mr Marshall said.

“I don’t know if we will have another SEPP (State Environmental Planning Policy) or not.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the koala protection policy would be revisited in 2021. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jeremy Piper

You don’t actually need a SEPP – there are other ways to protect farmers.

“But whatever we do, we won’t be having the same argument again. Everyone got a bloodied nose. Everyone is in agreement that we want to protect koalas and koala habitat, just not at the expense of farmers.”

Labor leader Jodie McKay yesterday criticised Mr Barilaro for celebrating a victory while koalas are the real losers.

Koalas will be extinct in the NSW by 2050 without urgent action, according to a recent parliamentary inquiry.

“The Deputy Premier has been out today strutting around saying he has had a victory, while (Planning Minister) Rob Stokes has had four years of his work undone,” Ms McKay said.

“The winner here is John Barilaro, the Premier has kowtowed to him.”