CANBERRA – An Australian state leader on Friday shut down a revolt in her coalition government over a policy to protect koala habitat by threatening to fire seven renegade ministers.
The Nationals party threatened to effectively split the government because they argue the koala habitat policy would restrict how landowners could manage their land.
Thousands of koalas died during wildfires in the last South Hemisphere summer and much of their habitat in New South Wales was razed.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who leads the rural-based Nationals, threatened to stop supporting government legislation, boycott government meetings and sit separately from Liberal lawmakers in Parliament over the policy difference.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian threatened to fire all the Nationals ministers unless the party withdrew by early Friday its threat to break the coalition agreement.
The Nationals buckled. Berejiklian and Barilaro released a brief joint statement saying their coalition arrangement remained in place.
Barilaro described the outcome as a political win because it elevated koalas on the government agenda.(AP)
