The NSW Liberal Party has twice abstained from voting in support of the Great Koala National Park. Despite strong rhetoric on the conservation of koalas and other endangered species, they abandoned their conservation stance, exposing deep divisions with their Coalition partners.
In two separate public interest debates on the Government’s landmark park announcement, the Liberals sat on their hands, leaving the chamber and refusing to vote on the issues they had led the public to believe they supported.
Their silence stood in stark contrast to the National Party, which took the opportunity to openly attack the park and the habitat it will protect.
On Sunday, the Government announced the creation of the Great Koala National Park - a $140 million investment that will protect 476,000 hectares of koala habitat, including 176,000 hectares of state forest immediately placed under a logging moratorium. The Park represents one of the most significant conservation steps in NSW history, safeguarding habitat for more than 100 threatened species while providing transition support for affected workers and communities.
Independent Member for Pittwater, Jacqui Scruby MP, said the Liberals’ refusal to back the park shows a failure of leadership.
“As an independent, I vote to represent my community every time. In contrast, the Liberals prioritised party politics over representing their constituents on a matter they had led them to believe they cared about,” Ms Scruby said. “This is why people are rejecting the major parties.”
“You can’t build your reputation on protecting koalas as Environment Minister and Shadow Minister for Environment, yet when it comes to voting, you walk away. As a member of parliament, not voting is weak at the best of times - on this issue, it lets down the people who voted for you because you told them you stood for conservation. Silence speaks volumes.”
The split within the Coalition was laid bare, with Nationals MLC Wes Fang calling the Liberal walkout “gutless”.
Ms Scruby said Pittwater voters expect more.
“We lost our koalas in Pittwater, yet koala signs remain, reminding us that we can’t let what happened in Pittwater happen in NSW. Pittwater knows where we stand. We want evidence-based policy, and with koalas set to be extinct by 2050 in NSW, people support action to ensure koalas remain in the wild for our kids and grandkids to see. Our community is proud to back the Great Koala National Park.”
Ms Scruby said the refusal to back the park is a test of political courage that the Liberals failed.
She also noted the economic opportunities of the GKNP for NSW and acknowledged that she would be working to hold the Government to account on delivering the Park and supporting the transition package for 300 impacted workers.