NSW Liberal MP emails colleagues to say government ‘failed’ on coronavirus response

A Liberal MP picked an extraordinary email fight with John Barilaro, and both of them hit ‘reply all’ on their explosive exchange.

A Liberal MP has been labelled a “nutter” after sending an extraordinary email to colleagues accusing the NSW government of failing in its coronavirus response.

Mulgoa MP Tanya Davies has waged an explosive email war with the Deputy Premier over mandatory vaccinations.

Both politicians copied all their colleagues into the incendiary online thread.

John Barilaro told Ms Davies her proposal to ban companies from mandating employees get Covid-19 jabs was “dangerous, irresponsible and threatens lives”.

Ms Davies fired back: “If the Prime Minister, Premier and her Crisis Cabinet cannot use their significant resources to find a better way to open up other than trampling upon and forcing a medical procedure in order for people to feed their families and live life, then they have failed in their jobs as leaders.”

Deputy Premier John Barilaro hit “reply all” on the email. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

One of Ms Davies’ colleagues called the western Sydney MP a “nutter” and said fellow government MPs were not surprised by the fiery exchange.

It was the second missive Ms Davies fired off to colleagues, after warning them she was intending to present her proposal to the party room.

“As many of you are aware I intend to put to our party room tomorrow my intention to move a private member’s bill to protect businesses and employees against forced Covid-19 vaccinations and discrimination based on vaccination status,” she wrote.

Her email drew a sharp rebuke from the Deputy Premier, who hit “reply all” and wrote: “This bill in itself attacks the very thing you are fighting for, freedom”.

“The only way we will get out of this latest outbreak is through vaccination, meaning we can all have freedom again.

“No one is forced to get the jab, your choice. But that comes at a price, that means your freedoms will be curtailed.

“Everything about this bill and the message it sends is dangerous, irresponsible, and threatens lives.”

Mr Barilaro confirmed he sent the email and said he stood by his comments.

At Tuesday’s Liberal party room meeting, Ms Davies presented her bill to colleagues and got almost no support, according to an MP who attended the meeting.

Only Riverstone MP Kevin Connolly voiced his support for the bill.

Mulgoa MP Tanya Davies launched a bill that would have banned companies from forcing employees to get jabbed against coronavirus. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Mr Connolly told NCA NewsWire he wouldn’t comment on party room discussions, but said he was broadly supportive of the bill.

“I do support the notion that it shouldn’t be up to companies to set the rules about mandatory vaccinations,” he said.

Ms Davies also said she wouldn’t talk about what was said in the party room, but she was “in no way deterred” from pushing forward with her bill.

“I respect the confidentiality of the party room, however there was a robust discussion in which a number of my colleagues contributed to the bill,” she told NCA NewsWire.

“Forcing people to be vaccinated will only raise further concern and hesitancy in the community.”

She also claimed that “tens of thousands” of people had reached out to her and her colleagues to say they were opposed to mandatory vaccinations.

Mr Barilaro said at the weekend that construction workers from Sydney’s hotspot areas would be allowed to return to worksites “if they meet vaccination conditions.”

Those workers must provide proof they have received either two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, one dose at least three weeks before attending work, or one dose and a negative virus test less than 72 hours old.

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said at a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday she thought Covid-19 vaccines should be mandatory for all healthcare workers.