New cabinet officially sworn in as Bridget McKenzie returns

An MP has suffered a technical mishap as he was sworn in to the government’s new-look ministry.

A minister has suffered a typical Covid mishap as he was sworn in to the new-look federal ministry.

Barnaby Joyce returned as Deputy Prime Minister last month after rolling former leader Michael McCormack and was present on Friday as his new-look ministry was sworn-in at Government House in Canberra.

Bridget McKenzie’s return to cabinet was rubber-stamped during the ceremony, less than 18 months after she was forced to resign over the sports rorts scandal.

But with the new ministers forced to take their oath via Zoom, Resources Minister Keith Pitt boldly ploughed ahead without doing a final technical check.

Governor-General David Hurley was forced to intervene with Mr Pitt inaudible.

“Minister, you’re on mute,” he said.

The new ministry was sworn-in on Friday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Pitt quickly rectified the problem with Prime Minister Scott Morrison chuckling in the background.

Last week, Mr Pitt conceded he was disappointed by the reshuffle, which saw him booted from cabinet despite retaining the resources portfolio.

Darren Chester has also been an outspoken critic of Mr Joyce since being stripped of the veterans’ affairs portfolio, labelling the new Deputy Prime Minister “incoherent” and saying the pair’s relationship was dead.

He was replaced by Andrew Gee, rewarded for shifting his allegiance from Mr McCormack in the leadership spill.

Originally published as New cabinet officially sworn in as Bridget McKenzie returns