'He needs to consider his position': Elliott says Barilaro's time is up
A senior Berejiklian government minister has urged the NSW National Party to oust its leader, John Barilaro, saying his position is untenable while accusing him of being weak.
Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said Mr Barilaro’s leadership was not tenable after his failed coup to overturn a Liberal Party policy on the conservation of koala habitats which farmers said would limit their land use.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro.Credit:Kate Geraghty
“I would appeal to the National Party room to consider their leader,” Mr Elliott said. “I think the fact that he has gone to ground is weak.
“I think he probably needs to consider his own position.”
Mr Elliott said Premier Gladys Berejiklian’s management of the back-to-back bushfire and coronavirus crises and the state’s economic recovery had been “first class and she doesn’t need this distraction”.
He said Mr Barilaro had “set the standard” last week when he said he would not work with the Liberal Party unless it capitulated on the Koala protection policy.
“He said he wasn’t going to work with us, so we are now going to work to his standard,” Mr Elliott said. “The message to him is that if you are going to put a gun to somebody’s head make sure it isn’t a water pistol.
“I’m suggesting his leadership is untenable.”
Mr Elliott said he was frustrated because after spending three weeks touring regional NSW, no National Party MPs had raised the koala policy. He said Mr Barilaro sat for many months in the cabinet room without raising the issue.
“It’s not something he raised with me,” Mr Elliott said. “I’m very frustrated he’s tried to blow up the government on something that wasn’t on the political radar.”
Mr Barilaro on Friday backed down from a threat to take his Nationals MPs to the crossbench over the koala policy, in a move that would have stripped the government of its majority.
Ms Berejiklian gave Mr Barilaro an ultimatum to withdraw the threat by Friday morning or face having National Party ministers replaced with Liberal Party MPs.
Mr Barilaro backed down but claimed a win, insisting he had secured a commitment that the policy would be debated at cabinet.
But Ms Berejiklian had already agreed to the cabinet discussion and said earlier in the week the "issue would be considered by cabinet in due course". It will remain on the agenda for a meeting on October 5.