Coalition crisis over koala war: Premier gives Nationals ultimatum
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has given the NSW Nationals an ultimatum to withdraw their threats to sit on the crossbench by first thing on Friday morning or she will swear in a new ministry.
In an escalation of the Coalition crisis, Ms Berejiklian said she would not tolerate the Nationals remaining in her cabinet while refusing to support the government.
Gladys Berejiklian, Sarah Mitchell, John Barilaro and Bronnie Taylor. Photo: Janie Barrett, Kate Geraghty, Jessica HromasCredit:Janie Barrett, Kate Geraghty, Jessica Hromas
"It is not possible to be the Deputy Premier or a Minister of the Crown and sit on the crossbench," Ms Berejiklian said in a statement on Thursday afternoon.
"I have just made it clear to the Deputy Premier that he and his Nationals colleagues who are members of the NSW Cabinet have until 9am Friday September 11 to indicate to me whether they wish to remain in my Cabinet or else sit on the crossbench.
"They cannot do both."
John Barilaro, Deputy Premier and leader of the NSW Nationals, was called to a meeting on Thursday afternoon with the Premier after he confirmed that his party would not support government legislation.
Nationals leader John Barilaro announced his party would be "effectively" sitting on crossbench.Credit:James Brickwood.
He did not tell Ms Berejiklian of the party's position before announcing it publicly.
After a lengthy party room meeting on Thursday morning, the Nationals also vowed not to attend the Coalition joint party room or leadership meetings. But he said ministers would go to cabinet.
The MPs also agreed to introduce a bill to the lower house to repeal the State Environmental Planning Policy relating to koala habitat protection.
"By not supporting government legislation effectively means all members [are] united in the National Party and will sit on crossbench," Mr Barilaro said
But Mr Barilaro confirmed that Port Macquarie MP Leslie Williams, who called on the Deputy Premier to stand aside after his ill-fated tilt at federal politics, would not sit on the crossbench.
The Coalition crisis was sparked by the policy designed to protect koala habitat, but the Nationals say it would severely limit the way property owners could manage their land.
Mr Barilaro said he had taken Planning Minister Rob Stokes on his word that a raft of changes to the policy would be made, but despite six months of negotiations, there had been no concessions.
"In the end, it felt like our concerns were not heard and the member for Clarence [Chris Gulaptis], in frustration, decided to go public to the point and offered to sit on the crossbench," Mr Barilaro said.
He said the Nationals felt "betrayed" by the Liberals' refusal to change the guidelines of the policy.
"This issue alone is now starting to divide our communities. This issue alone takes away hope and prosperity for the future of the regions," Mr Barilaro said.
Opposition Leader Jodi McKay said Ms Berejiklian did not have the confidence of the Labor Party, calling on her to address the crisis within two hours.
Ms McKay said she was struggling to understand whether Mr Barilaro was still the Deputy Premier or just the leader of the Nationals.
"This morning we’ve seen the Deputy Premier effectively blow up the government and blow up the Coalition," Ms McKay said.
"I don't understand how you can walk into cabinet, be bound by cabinet solidarity, yet walk into Parliament and not support government legislation.
"I don't know how you can be part of a coalition, yet still sit on the crossbench."
The policy became law on December 18 after being signed by the Governor on the advice of the executive council, which was made up of two Nationals ministers: Bronnie Taylor, representing Mr Barilaro who was in London at the time, and Kevin Anderson.
On Wednesday, one of the Berejiklian government's longest-serving Liberal MPs, Catherine Cusack, said Mr Barilaro had shown "unprecedented disloyalty" to the Coalition.
In a extraordinary attack on the NSW Nationals leader, Ms Cusack said: "In 30 years I have never seen such behaviour by any leader in politics."
Ms Cusack said Mr Barilaro should resign as leader of the junior Coalition partner if he refused to follow cabinet processes and "continues to embolden government MPs to move to the crossbench".