‘Struggling’: NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro takes four weeks’ mental health leave

Deputy premier's break from parliament comes after he threatened to blow up the Coalition government over koala protections

The NSW Nationals party leader, John Barilaro, is taking mental health leave from parliament following a tumultuous 10 days during which he threatened to blow up the Coalition government over koala protections before backing down.

Barilaro, the deputy premier, told his party room colleagues by text message on Friday afternoon that he would take up to four weeks' leave to work on his mental health.