State executive votes to accept Leslie Williams after she quit Nats

The Liberal party has voted unanimously to accept Nationals defector Leslie Williams into the party, despite the move catching the Deputy Premier by surprise.

A politician who defected from the Nationals to join the Liberals over Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s handling of contentious koala protection rules did not consult with him over the decision.

Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams said she did not speak with Mr Barilaro about her move because he had already taken leave to work on his mental health.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian would not say when she first learned of Ms Williams’ decision to quit the Nationals on Monday but said “it’s fair to say, she’d not been happy for a while”.

An application from Ms Williams to join the Liberals was unanimously approved by the party’s state executive first thing Monday morning, with Ms Berejiklian later welcoming her decision to remain in the Coalition rather than sit on the crossbench.

Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams has quit the NSW Nationals.

“That goes without saying, at least it maintains the number that the government has in our ranks,” she said.

Despite Ms Williams switching parties and changing the ratio of Liberal and National MPs in the coalition, there will be no ministerial reshuffle.

“That’s not my intention to go down that path,” Ms Berejiklian said.

One senior source said that Ms Williams’ defection did not change the coalition formula for distributing ministries among the Liberal and National parties, but if any other Nationals jumped ship it could spark a reshuffle.

Ms Williams defended her actions on Monday, citing her ongoing concerns with Mr Barilaro’s actions including an abandoned threat for the Nationals to boycott government legislation unless issues with koala protection rules were resolved.

Her actions have enraged some former Nationals colleagues, with some now calling for her to resign as a Deputy Speaker of parliament.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro during a fiery question time last week. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

That position comes with an additional yearly salary of more than $50,000 plus an expense allowance of almost $34,000.

Despite being appointed to that position as a Nationals representative, Ms Williams could only lose the role if she resigns or if the parliament votes for a new Deputy Speaker.

NATS MP QUITS, CALLS BARILARO ‘RECKLESS AND UNREASONALBLE’

Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams has quit the Nationals over John Barilaro’s handling of controversial koala protection rules, in a move set to reignite tensions over the Deputy Premier’s leadership.

Ms Williams said she quit the party and applied to join the Liberals over Mr Barilaro’s “politically reckless and unreasonable” actions.

Senior Liberals were last night describing the defection as an example of the “Barilaro effect,” citing four seats lost under his leadership.

Ms Williams last week told Mr Barilaro that she wouldn’t support a threat to “effectively” sit on the crossbench unless concerns with koala protection rules were addressed.

Despite Mr Barilaro backing down from that threat, Ms Williams has now quit the party and will seek to serve as a Liberal MP.

“Sadly, the events of the past weeks and months have cemented my decision to resign as a member of the NSW Nationals effective immediately,” Ms Williams said in a statement.

“I have today made (an) application to join the Liberal Party.”

The Liberal Party’s state executive was set to hold a fax ballot last night on whether to accept Ms Williams into the party.

Senior sources indicated Ms Williams would definitely be accepted with the support of moderate and centre-right factions. That’s despite one state executive member raising questions about whether she would be allowed to join.

Ms Williams said Mr Barilaro’s bid to “hold the Premier and the Government to ransom during this COVID-19 pandemic was unnecessary, unhelpful and frankly politically reckless and unreasonable”.

The backing of Nationals MPs by Mr Barilaro who were disgruntled over koala protection policies has led to this moment. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

The Nationals leader didn’t face a challenge to his leadership at a party room meeting last week, but ahead of that meeting two of his MPs declined to endorse him as the leader.

Ms Williams has previously called for Mr Barilaro to resign, after The Daily Telegraph revealed he called Andrew Constance a “c…”.

Senior Liberals were last night suggesting Mr Barilaro’s leadership was under threat over the defection.

Prior to Ms Williams’ resignation last night, the Nationals lost three seats at the 2019 election.

A Nationals source described the defection as an “attack on John Barilaro while he is on leave”.

The party’s NSW chairman Andrew Fraser said it was “disappointing”.

“The NSW Nationals have delivered significant investment in Port Macquarie, and it is disappointing that Leslie has decided to leave,” Mr Fraser said in a statement.

“We wish Leslie all the best.”

Her resignation from the Nationals comes after Mr Barilaro took up to four weeks leave citing mental health concerns.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday said Mr Barilaro would receive any help he needs while on leave.

Ms Williams previously criticised Mr Barilaro during his stoush with Transport Minister Andrew Constance. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“I’ve personally made sure he knows that if he needs any support, he will get that, and I wish him and his family well during this time,” she said.

Meanwhile, NSW Farmers has today launched a new push against the koala protection rules. In an advertising campaign running from today, the peak body has called for the government to “engage with farmers not against them to protect koalas,” and “refocus the Koala SEPP to protect koalas on the edge of our large urban centres”.

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Originally published as State executive votes to accept Leslie Williams after she quit Nats