The stoush over koala protection policy that almost tore the NSW coalition government apart is officially over, with cabinet finally agreeing on an amended set of rules.
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On Tuesday night, changes to the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) covering koala habitat were agreed to by ministers who four weeks earlier were at each other's throats over the policy.
Last month NSW Nationals leader and deputy premier John Barilaro threatened to blow up the coalition government if concessions weren't made to rural property owners.
Mr Barilaro argued the laws were a "nail in the coffin for farmers" and threatened to take his MPs to the cross bench, but backed down less than 24 hours later after an ultimatum from the premier.
Acting Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the agreement reached would free farmers from "green tape", by separating land management and private native forestry within the SEPP.
"Farmers face enough uncertainty with seasonal conditions and volatile markets - it is critical they have certainty around rules that apply to their farming practices as they bounce back from bushfires and drought," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the government had been working for months to strike a balance between protecting koalas and the rights of farmers, and "robust and passionate" discussions played an important part in that.
The Nationals wanted several changes made including the removal of the controversial koala mapping, which has now been taken out of the policy.
They were concerned the policy would limit land use on farms and the ability to rezone areas for development as more trees would be classed as koala habitat, which would restrict the clearing of land.
A refinement of the definition of "core koala habitat" was among the changes approved.
But Greens MP and Chair of the NSW Upper House Inquiry into Koalas Cate Faehrmann says the Liberals' backdown is hugely disappointing.
"The protection of habitat necessary to stop koalas becoming extinct must be decided by the science, not by the National Party," Ms Faehrmann said in a statement.
"For the Liberals to back down on the definition of core koala habitat after years of extensive research and mapping by experts is hugely disappointing."
With a third of the koala population estimated to have been wiped out by last summer's bushfires, Ms Faehrmann says every little slice of koala habitat is crucial to their survival.
"I fail to see how the environment minister is going to keep koala numbers stable let alone double their numbers by 2050 if he can't get his government to stick to what the experts are telling them is needed to save koalas and their habitat," Ms Faehrmann said.
Mr Barilaro wasn't at Tuesday's cabinet meeting to claim the policy win, after the fallout from the stoush prompted him to take four weeks of mental health leave.
The final Koala SEPP will be taken to the Governor for approval as soon as possible, while amendments to the Local Land Services Act 2013 will be introduced to parliament later this year.
Australian Associated Press
