THE brinkmanship of NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro has strengthened his position as Nationals leader, according to Riverina parliamentary colleague Wes Fang.
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Mr Barilaro yesterday retreated from a threat to move his Nationals MPs to the crossbench and split the Coalition government following a meeting with Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
On Thursday, the Nationals called for changes to koala protections and moved to shift to the crossbench until the matter was resolved.
Ms Berejiklian indicated yesterday the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) would be discussed in Cabinet.
Mr Fang said Mr Barilaro had "the full 100 per cent support of the party room".
"I can assure you that the way that John has conducted himself over the last 48 hours has only strengthened that," Mr Fang said.
"We have forced and got exactly what we were after which is a debate and the issue to go to Cabinet and for the (Nationals) ministers to hold the responsible (Liberal) minister (Rob Stokes) to account for those issues around the SEPP which haven't been addressed.
"It took a high stakes move to force that and without a doubt the best person to lead us through that was John Barilaro."
Mr Fang said he believed there was grassroots support for the action.
"The feedback I've received from people on the ground has been very strong," he said.
"I have had lapsed members of the Nationals who have paid their renewals because they've seen the team behind John and that he's prepared to stand up and fight."
But Member for Murray Helen Dalton said it was another example of a hollow threat from Mr Barilaro and the outcome was "nothing I didn't expect".
"Barilaro talks big in the bush and then goes back and capitulates," the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP said.
"We've seen that with greyhound racing, council amalgamations and water with the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and Royal Commission."
Mrs Dalton and Mr Fang both have concerns about mapping methods and the number of tree species that form part of the koala protection plans.
Opposition Leader Jodi McKay plans to move a vote of no confidence in the government when parliament resumes next week.
Mrs Dalton said she would support that motion.
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