The position of NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro has been described as untenable by one Liberal colleague after he backflipped on threats to move his party to the cross bench.
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The NSW government avoided collapse after Mr Barilaro backed down in a crisis meeting with Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday.
Mr Barilaro blindsided Ms Berejiklian on Thursday by announcing his MPs would abstain from voting on coalition bills and would be "effectively on the cross bench" as they fought changes to the Koala Habitat Protection State Environmental Planning Policy.
Ms Berejiklian and Mr Barilaro issued a joint statement after the meeting on Friday confirming the coalition remained in place, and the Nationals' concerns over the koala policy would be dealt with at an upcoming cabinet meeting.
Mr Barilaro later said the assurance the matter would be discussed at cabinet was a "victory".
But some Liberals are now questioning Mr Barilaro's leadership of the Nationals, with Police Minister David Elliott hitting out at his coalition colleague.
"It is disgusting to divert attention to something not even on the political radar at a time like this," he told reporters in Dubbo.
"The disloyalty that we've seen out of the deputy premier makes his position untenable."
NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay called his backflip "humiliating", and also said his position was "completely untenable".
"The National Party can't continue to back him, not with what we have seen in the last couple of days," she told reporters.
The opposition leader flagged she would move a vote of no confidence in the government when parliament resumes next week.
However, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet described the government as a "very healthy coalition".
"Any matter or disagreement on public policy are dealt with through the cabinet processes... and that is the commitment the deputy premier made today," he said.
The Nationals are concerned the koala policy limits land use on farms and the ability to rezone areas for development as more trees are classed as koala habitat, which will restrict the clearing of land.
The move effectively robbed the government of its majority and provoked an ultimatum from the premier to the Mr Barilaro and his Nationals colleagues to declare support for her government by 9am on Friday or be sacked from cabinet.
Australian Associated Press
