10 September 2020 - Australian bill to protect koalas sparks political crisis
'Koala war' splits Australia's New South Wales government
(BBC News, 10/09/2020)
Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state government is in crisis due to internal fighting over a policy designed to protect koalas.
The National Party, which is the junior coalition partner, says it will no longer support government legislation due to its opposition to the policy.
But party leader Deputy Premier John Barilaro said: "We are not anti-koala."
Koala policy upping farmers' responsibility draws Nationals MP threat to head to the crossbench
Bronwyn Herbert and Joanne Shoebridge (ABC North Coast, 02/09/2020)
A North Coast MP has threatened to head to the crossbench if the New South Wales Government forces farmers to search for koalas on their properties.
But the Nationals' Member for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis, said the new rules, which include increasing the number of tree species protected from 10 to 123, is a step too far and would severely limit the way property owners manage their land.
'Koala war' throws Australian state into political chaos
Renju Jose (Reuters, 10/09/2020)
A dispute over policies to protect koalas has split the governing coalition in the Australian state of New South Wales in a political drama dubbed the “koala war”.
The row revolves around a new policy that restricts construction in the habitats of the marsupial, an Australian emblem.
An inquiry in June found koalas, which live in eucalyptus forests, could become extinct by 2050 in New South Wales unless the government immediately intervened.
NSW Nationals withdraw support for government over koala policy
(The Guardian, 09/09/2020)
Nationals leader John Barilaro said his party would abstain from government legislation but his MPs would remain on the frontbench and hit back at claims he was a 'koala killer'.