Bridget McKenzie and Andrew Gee big winners in Barnaby Joyce’s Nationals ministerial reshuffle

Nationals MPs Bridget McKenzie and Andrew Gee the big winners in Barnaby Joyce’s ministerial reshuffle, with both set to enter federal cabinet.

Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie is set to go back into Scott Morrison and Barnaby Joyce’s federal cabinet. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Nationals MPs Bridget McKenzie and Andrew Gee are the biggest winners from Barnaby Joyce’s ministerial reshuffle, with both set to enter cabinet at the expense of Darren Chester and Keith Pitt.

Senator McKenzie – just a year-and-a-half after quitting cabinet over a sports grant scandal – will become Regionalisation, Regional Education and Regional Communications Minister. She will also take on responsibility for drought and emergency management.

Mr Gee will be the new Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister, a position that was previously held by Mr Chester.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the changes showed the strength of the Coalition and, with Senator McKenzie’s elevation, would see the most women in a cabinet ever.

“The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Joyce) and I will continue this strong partnership, one based on shared values and a shared vision for building an even stronger Australia,” he said. “Our focus remains on two outcomes – protecting lives and protecting livelihoods, as we continue to combat Covid-19 and build on the economic recovery that has led to the creation of almost one million jobs since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

But Mr Joyce’s surprise relegation of Mr Pitt, the Resources Minister, to the outer ministry and his expected decision to dump Mr Chester from veterans affairs on the eve of a royal commission into veteran suicides sent shockwaves through Canberra on Sunday.

The Deputy Prime Minister took the leadership from Michael McCormack last week partly on a promise to fight a net zero emissions target and he had been portrayed by his supporters as a better fit to win mining seats against Anthony Albanese and Labor.

On Sunday, Mr Joyce said he still expected Mr Pitt to stay across his portfolio like a “bad suit” and that the sector would still find advocates around the cabinet table.

“I do keep talking about resources, it is important. And it’s also important for the treasurer of Australia to know about the resources industry … it’s important for regional development that we understand the resources industry,” Mr Joyce said.

“Even if you go to health. If you want to pay for health expansion, you’ve got to make money, and the nation’s biggest export is iron ore.”

In the frontbench shake-up, Mr Pitt will be demoted from cabinet but retain his portfolio responsibilities of resources and water.

He will lose responsibility for the Northern Australia portfolio.

“It’s been a privilege to have served as a cabinet minister. I look forward to continue working with the resources and water sectors that are both crucial to the national economy,” Mr Pitt said.

Labor resources spokeswoman Madeleine King leapt on Mr Pitt’s demotion – after years of the ALP facing criticism it had left behind mining communities – and said the Coalition had given resources workers a “slap in the face”.

“Resources is a critical economic portfolio for Australia that demands a seat at the cabinet table. Keith Pitt was far from a stellar resources minister – but at least he had a seat at the cabinet table,” Ms King said.

“After knifing Michael McCormack last week, Barnaby Joyce declared he would have a ‘laser-like focus’ on the needs of resources communities. It seems that focus only lasted a few days.”

Andrew Gee.

Mr Chester – a long-time backer of Mr McCormack’s – also said he was thankful to have served in the portfolio, having been sacked by Mr Joyce for the second time in his career.

“As minister, I’ve been constantly impressed by the professionalism, determination and resilience of ADF personnel, veterans and families,” he said.

“Looking after your mates and acting with dignity and respect in adversity have set a standard which I hope to emulate. Thank you for your service.”

Veterans groups on Sunday were divided by Mr Chester’s dumping ahead of the looming royal commission. The RSL and other groups have supported Mr Chester and in recent days have called for him to be kept in place.

But suicide prevention campaigner Julie-Ann Finney – the most prominent advocate for a royal commission, whose son David took his own life – said Mr Chester had failed in the portfolio.

“I’m sure Mr Chester was very good for (his seat of) Gippsland but he was not listening to veterans on the ground. I’m looking forward to someone new in the chair,” Ms Finney said on Sunday.

Voice of a Veteran founder Heston Russell said Mr Gee had “low hanging fruit” he could deal with in the portfolio.

“We wouldn’t be having a royal commission if Mr Chester had done the job,” Mr Russell said.

Deputy Nationals leader David Littleproud will stay in cabinet and add Northern Australia to his current responsibility of agriculture.

In the outer ministry, David Gillespie was promoted to regional health minister. Kevin Hogan and Michelle Landry also retained their frontbench positions, with Mr Hogan taking on responsibilities for local government.

Nationals senator Susan McDonald, who was only elected at the last election, will become a special envoy for Northern Australia.

Mr McCormack will remain on the backbench after his defeat by Mr Joyce in the leadership spill last Monday.