The Perrottet government has been accused of reopening the “koala wars” by proposing legislation that would strip New South Wales councils of their powers to regulate native forestry operations on private land.  The agriculture minister, Dugald Saunders, introduced a bill on Wednesday that critics said would water down the regulation of forestry in the state.  Sitting independent MPs and candidate hopefuls alike jumped on the proposal, accusing the Liberal party of bowing to pressure from the Nationals, flagging they would campaign on the issue ahead of the March state poll.  Under environmental planning laws, councils have the power to require landowners to obtain a development approval if they wish to undertake logging on their properties.  Saunders’ proposal would remove that power from councils, which the independent upper house MP Justin Field said would open up more industrial native forest logging on private land, including in koala habitat.