Michael is joined by Andrew Fraser, NSW Nationals Chairman, regarding their feud with the Coalition over the proposed habitat protection of koalas.

The National Party say they want to see a thriving koala population in NSW, even a doubling of the population, but the proposed State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) does not achieve this. It is a blunt instrument to make city-centric lawmakers feel good about themselves.

For six months the NSW Nationals have sought to work collaboratively with the Liberal Party to ensure the State Environmental Planning Policy Koala Habitat Protection, which has replaced the Koala Habitat Protection (SEPP44), does not take away farmers’ property rights.

The National Party brought forward a number of constructive and reasonable proposals but unfortunately the response from the Liberal Party suggests a lack of urgency and unwillingness to give ground on any substantive matters that greatly affect our regional communities.

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