NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has sacked Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Catherine Cusack after she voted against a controversial land management bill.
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Ms Cusack, who has been a member of the NSW Legislative Council since 2003, voted to have the Local Land Services Bill amendments sent to a committee, sparking an angry response from Ms Berejiklian, who had hoped to end tension within the government over koala planning policy.
Ms Cusack's vote on Thursday night saw the bill go down 18-19, meaning it is unlikely to get the green light until well into next year.
"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," Ms Berejiklian said.
Greens MP Cate Faehrmann, who chairs the NSW Upper House Inquiry into Koalas, and Port Stephens MP Kate Washington celebrated Ms Cusack's vote.
A spokesperson for Ms Cusack said she didn't wish to comment on Thursday night.
In September, NSW Nationals leader and deputy premier John Barilaro threatened to blow up the coalition government if concessions weren't made to rural property owners.
However, the Liberals and Nationals appeared to have reached agreement on koala policy last month. The Nationals wanted several changes made including the removal of the controversial koala mapping.