Premier Gladys Berejiklian Sacks Hunter MLC Catherine Cusack Over Koala Policy Port Stephens Port Stephens News by News Of The Area - Modern Media - November 23, 2020November 24, 2020 Catherine Cusack during a recent visit to Port Stephens. Photo by Marian Sampson. NSW Premier Premier Gladys Berejiklian, has sacked Member for the Legislative Council for the Hunter Catherine Cusack, after she crossed the floor last week over the contentious koala policy. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au Ms Cusack has been the region’s most recent representative on the Legislative Council. Prior to voting Ms Cusack stated that the bill had “zero to do with protecting koalas”. Ms Cusack crossed the floor and voted with Labor, the Greens, the Animal Justice Party and Independent Justin Field in favour of the inquiry. In crossing the floor, the bill was defeated 18 to 19. This is the second time that this bill has caused controversy with Nationals Leader and Deputy Premier John Barilaro, having previously threatened to move his MPs to the crossbench over the policy. Cusack said in her speech to parliament, “It’s to try to patch up a political disagreement, and I would dearly love to see that solved, but it is just too costly if it comes at the expense of koalas.” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said in a statement, “Following her decision today to move a non-government amendment to a government bill, I have made the decision to immediately remove Ms Catherine Cusack as a Parliamentary Secretary,” This is the second time that Ms Cusack has lost her role as Parliamentary Secretary, having stood down from her post as in 2017 criticising members of the cabinet to Premier Berejklian. She was reinstated in December 2019. The NSW Government has since dumped the legislation, which in September had threatened to split the Coalition. At the recent opening of the Port Stephens Koala Sanctuary Catherine Cusack spoke candidly about the need to protect koala habitat, she at the time was hopeful that the Federal Environment Minister Susan Ley would decide in favour of preserving the Brandy Hill koala habitat. Unfortunately the decision handed down by Susan Ley was one which allows for a quarry to be developed in a core koala habitat and a breeding ground for the species. It is now a case of ‘watch this space’ for environmentalists trying to protect koala habitat and preserve the species which suffers from fractured corridors of habitat, and are prone to vehicle strikes and dog attacks. By Marian SAMPSON
Great article Marian…I’m a Koala rescuer in the Northern Rivers (NSW) and I can tell you Koalas are in a bad way & won’t make it into 2050. I belong to the 2 major Koala groups up here (Planting trees/rescuing koalas) and most taken into our hospital don’t survive long term, due to pre existing serious health conditions.They suffer dreadfully from stress & do NOT like to be handled.If this rotten SEPP Bill went through in the Upper House Koalas were doomed , NO mistake about it. Catherine Cusack is a legend & her one vote saved Koalas in the short term.How did the Premier reward her ? By sacking her and this is the Premier that said “I want to be the Premier that Saved Koalas” unquote What a lie that was and how arrogant & corrupt is this LNP Govt. They allowed the Nationals to create chaos & mayhem, then did a deal with them which will be the death knell for our beloved but sadly diminishing koala population. Shame Shame Shame Premier your brutal decisions Over the past few months have placed no doubt in the minds of NSW citizens that you can not be trusted & your word means NOTHING. Reply
