Prime Minister Scott Morrison promotes supporters of Nationals leader Michael McCormack in cabinet reshuffle
Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has warned that the PM’s failure to promote his supporters into the ministry could see rebel MPs cross the floor.
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Barnaby Joyce has issued a warning to the prime minister over the promotion of only those who backed Nationals leader Michael McCormack in the recent attempted coup, it has been reported.
Mr Joyce told Prime Minister Scott Morrison yesterday that such a move was not smart and there would be a corner of his supporters in federal parliament’s lower house who were aware they held the balance of power, The Australian reports.
Fellow National MPs George Christensen and Llew O’Brien are prepared to vote against government legislation as payback for Mr McCormack’s opponents being left out of the cabinet.
“You can’t take my vote for granted ... I’ll be looking at everything,” Mr O’Brien told the newspaper.
Mr Joyce failed to overthrow Mr McCormack on Tuesday after a spill triggered a vote during a meeting in Canberra.
Former resources minister Matt Canavan quit the cabinet to back Mr Joyce and has not been returned.
Key allies of Mr McCormack were promoted, including Mark Coulton and Andrew Gee.
Mr Joyce also spoke out against a bid to change National Party rules to prevent leaders being knifed by requiring two-thirds of the party room’s agreement to allow a leadership spill.
“I am fervently opposed to the mooted change to diminish access to senators and members determining their leader,” he wrote in an opinion piece for The Australian. “I am against it because its purpose is to curtail access to a vote, which is obviously a removal of a democratic attribute of our party.”
AFP WON’T PURSUE TAYLOR’S OFFICE
Australian Federal Police will not pursue Angus Taylor’s office for allegedly forging a document because of a lack of evidence and the “low level of harm” the saga caused.
The AFP received a referral from NSW Police regarding allegations the Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister’s office had falsified documents from the office of the Lord Mayor of Sydney Clover Moore on December 20 after it was determined not to be in the state’s jurisdiction.
The investigation centred around a letter sent by Mr Taylor in September attacking Ms Moore claiming the council spent $1.7 million on international travel and $14.2 million on domestic travel, quoting the council’s annual general report.
It was later revealed the figures differed from the council’s published Annual Report.
But a spokesman for the AFP confirmed on Thursday there would be no further investigation.
“Following inquiries undertaken and information provided by NSW Police, the AFP has determined it is unlikely further investigation will result in obtaining sufficient evidence to substantiate a Commonwealth offence,” he said.
“The AFP assessment of this matter identified there is no evidence to indicate the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction was involved in falsifying information.”
The spokesman said the cost of pursuing the matter further and the apparent lack of harm had also contributed to the decision not to investigate.
“The low level of harm and the apology made by the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction to the Lord Mayor of Sydney, along with the significant level of resources required to investigate were also factored into the decision not to pursue this matter,” he said.
“The AFP now considers this matter finalised.”
The matter was referred to NSW Police by the federal Labor Party, which accused Mr Taylor’s office of forging or altering the document it released to the media.
NSW Financial Crimes Unit detectives set up a strike force but later concluded the matter is outside its jurisdiction and if any crime was committed it would have originated in Canberra.
Mr Taylor said he welcomed the advice from AFP about the matter being finalised.
“The Labor Party has a track record of using police referrals as a political tool,” he said.
“The Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Attorney-General’s pursuit of this matter is a shameful abuse of their office and a waste of our policing agencies’ time.”
PM RESHUFFLES HIS CABINET
Promotions have been handed to six Nationals MPs in the wake of a bruising failed leadership bid by Barnaby Joyce.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday unveiled the new-look ministry, which included the creation of several new roles and the elevation of the Veterans Affairs portfolio to the Cabinet.
Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud has been promoted to Agriculture Minister and will retain the Drought and Emergency Management portfolios.
Mr Littleproud’s Water Resources responsibilities have been handed to Queenslander Keith Pitt, who has been elevated to Cabinet and also given Resources and Northern Australia.
Victorian Darren Chester will be entering Cabinet, but keep Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel.
Among the NSW members, Parkes MP Mark Coulton will continue as Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government Minister.
While Calare MP Andrew Gee has been promoted to Regional Education and Decentralisation Minister, and will be Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment.
Queenslander Michelle Landry will continue as Assistant Minister for Children and Family, and will also serve as Assistant Minister for Northern Australia.
Kevin Hogan will be promoted to Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister. He has resigned as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives this afternoon and there will be a vote next Monday to replace him.
Prior to #QT, Deputy Speaker @KevinHoganMP rises to announce that he will be resigning from that role, after being appointed to the Ministry. Speaker @TonySmithMP announces that the House will elect a new Deputy Speaker on Monday, after #QT.
— Australian House of Representatives (@AboutTheHouse) February 6, 2020
Mr Morrison said he had accepted all the recommendations for promotions from the Nationals and thanked outgoing Ministers Bridget McKenzie and Matt Canavan.
“Can I also thank, and put on record my thanks, to Bridget McKenzie, as I did here on the weekend, for the great work that she did for rural and regional Australians, in particular when it comes to the drought,” he said.
“And can I also thank Matt Canavan for his service to our Cabinet.
“As you know, Matt elected to leave the Cabinet, and I want to thank him for the great work he has done in the resources portfolio and the northern Australian portfolio and I appreciate the way he engaged on those issues so passionately for that time of service.”
Mr Canavan resigned from Cabinet to support Mr Joyce’s failed leadership bid, brought on in the fallout of the “sports rorts” saga that forced Ms McKenzie to resign.
Mr Morrison said the partnership between the Nationals and the Liberals would continue to provide “stability” and “leadership” for regional and rural Australians.
“For some time, with the drought extending over many years, with the calamity of the
devastating floods in North Queensland, this time last year, the bushfires, the impacts – indeed, even of this virus, as it impacts on rural and regional communities and the response we need on the ground to that and the measures that we are taking,” he said.
“All of these issues highlight again the importance of the wonderful relationship in the Coalition that we have between the Liberals and Nationals in government, in government.”
Originally published as Prime Minister Scott Morrison promotes supporters of Nationals leader Michael McCormack in cabinet reshuffle