Berejiklian warns Nationals against further public posturing over koala protection policy
The New South Wales premier, Gladys Berejiklian, has made it clear she will not tolerate any further public posturing by the Nationals over koala habitat protections or new threats by the junior partner to leave the Coalition.
Berejiklian on Thursday also implored her Liberal colleagues to move on and refocus on their jobs following last week’s near split in the government, brought on by the Nationals leader, John Barilaro, threatening to move to the crossbenches with his MPs.
In question time, Barilaro was again peppered with questions about his behaviour and whether he was “politically reckless” after the senior Liberal minister, Andrew Constance, levelled that accusation at him on Thursday morning.
Barilaro insisted the issue was not about him or individuals, noting he had backed Constance, the member for Bega, 100% during the bushfires. Barilaro appeared to be restraining himself from attacking the man when he said he would continue to fight for rural and regional NSW.
On Wednesday, Barilaro had refused to rule out further threats to dismantle the Coalition, despite having agreed to work within agreed processes.
There is also ongoing debate about the extent to which Barilaro raised his concerns about the koala protections within the government before going public in such dramatic fashion last week. The policy had been under discussion since 2016 and was implemented in March.
Constance began Thursday by branding Barilaro “politically reckless” and accusing him of “buggering up.”
“I thought his behaviour in the parliament yesterday was unnecessary. He stood up and didn’t guarantee the Coalition,” Constance said. “For Christ’s sake, just get back to what’s important here, and that’s the community. And that’s where Barra’s, quite frankly, buggering up.”
A clearly frustrated Berejiklian used her regular Covid-19 press conference to remind Barilaro of what he had agreed to.
“I know what he wrote in the statement that he and I signed,” she said referring to last week’s statement. It said both leaders had given “a commitment to supporting cabinet conventions and processes”.
“Absolutely, I rely on a joint statement we put out last week and I am someone who gives people the benefit of doubt,” she said, referring to Barilaro’s performance on Wednesday.
But the tensions are unlikely to end there. Barilaro had told his party room the koala issue would be debated at next week’s cabinet meeting on 21 September. Berejiklian is insisting on the usual cabinet processes, which means it won’t be considered until 6 October.
Then there is the question of whether there will be any concessions on the koala policy when the time comes.
The planning minister, Rob Stokes, told parliament the koala habitat protections – contained in the new state environmental planning policy – had been updated in light of the available science, drawing on experts and the scientists within the department’s environment and science division.
So far, there is a lack of momentum within the Nationals’ parliamentary ranks to replace Barilaro, although insiders have said there remains unease about his leadership after last week’s ruction.
The party’s chair, Andrew Fraser, who has been active in resolving the latest crisis over the Coalition, is seen as a strong supporter of Barilaro.