Page MP Kevin Hogan to become shadow minister for trade and tourism
One of only two government MP’s to earn a swing towards them at the last election has been given his first senior portfolio in the new Dutton shadow cabinet.
Lismore
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Nationals member for Page Kevin Hogan has entered the coalition frontbench for the first time under new leaders Peter Dutton and David Littleproud.
Mr Hogan has been appointed the Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism as well as Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the house of representatives.
He will shadow Labor’s deputy senate leader Don Farrell in the trade and tourism portfolio and will work alongside former Liberal Communications minister Paul Fletcher as manager of opposition business.
Mr Hogan will be in charge of examining the government’s approach to opening up Australia’s borders to more foreign workers as well as the nations various trade relationships.
The 58-year old will also have to navigate the new Labor government’s handling of it’s tricky trade relationship with China.
When asked last week if he wanted to be part of the shadow ministry Mr Hogan played down speculation and was indifferent about becoming shadow minister for emergency management following the floods in his electorate.
“The new leader of the Nations (David Littleproud) has discretion of handing out ministerial positions,” he said.
“If he is kind enough to give me one I’ll take whatever he gives me.”
The shadow minister for emergency management will be the deputy Nationals leader Senator Perin Davey.
On the day the new Albanese government’s frontbench was sworn in Mr Hogan made key demands of the new emergency management minister Senator Murray Watt.
The Page MP formally wrote to the new minister on Wednesday to ask for the disaster recovery allowance o be extended for flood-affected residents in the Northern Rivers.
With the payment set to run out next week and thousands of residents wither homeless or without work, Hogan says he wants the new minister to extend it “straight away”.
Mr Dutton’s shadow frontbench matches Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s record ten women in cabinet.
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