Labor has abandoned rural regions, says Michael McCormack

Michael McCormack has accused Labor of ‘abandoning regional and rural Australia’ by appointing a city-based MP to the role of opposition energy and resources spokesman.

Labor MP Ed Husic in question time on Tuesday. Picture: Sean Davey

Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has accused Labor of “abandoning regional and rural Australia” by appointing a city-based MP to the role of opposition agriculture and resources spokesman.

Ed Husic, the member for the western Sydney seat of Chifley, was catapulted to the role on Tuesday after Joel Fitzgibbon quit the Labor frontbench over the ­opposition’s approach to climate change.

Mr McCormack said Mr Fitzgibbon’s departure was the “final nail in the coffin” for Labor’s interest in regional Australia, which sent an “awful message” to tens of thousands of workers in industries related to those portfolios.

“The Nationals have a real plan to boost our agriculture sector to a $100bn industry by 2030,” he said. “Labor’s belief that ­Sydney-centric policymaking will get us there is fanciful.

“Labor abandoned regional and rural Australians long ago.

“Today’s events only serve to confirm this.”

Mr Husic, who has served as opposition spokesman for the digital economy, human services and employment services port­folios, stood down from the frontbench after Labor’s loss at the 2019 election to make way for Kristina Keneally.

CFMEU northern mining and NSW energy president Peter Jordan said Mr Fitzgibbon had been a strong voice for mining and energy workers, while calling on Labor to find a replacement who understood the values of the sector and its workers. “He’s stepped up to the challenge of reversing the backlash against Labor in coal regions at the last federal election and made good progress,” he said of Mr Fitzgibbon. “It’s important Labor continues to connect with the men and women who work in our valuable resources industries and finds someone for the role who can advocate just as fiercely.”

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said he was pleased Mr Husic had resumed his position on the frontbench. “Ed Husic will be the shadow minister for agriculture and resources, and then we will have a fuller change at the end of the year, after the government does (a reshuffle),” he said.

Mr Husic said while he wasn’t expecting the promotion, he was honoured to be responsible for two industries that had been the bedrock of the Australian economy in terms of agriculture and resources. “They have not only generated enormous wealth for the nation but they’ve created jobs for people, really good jobs and it would be a huge honour to be able to be in those portfolios,” he said.

“I look forward over coming weeks to talking with a wide variety of people from the agricultural and resources sectors because they’ve got a continuing role to play in terms of providing, making sure people can pay bills, generating wealth for the nation.”

Scott Morrison seized on Mr Fitzgibbon’s resignation in question time to say he had been driven from cabinet by an ideological group of zealots who had no interests in the jobs of Australians or regional Australians.

“The member for Hunter has been driven out of the shadow cabinet,” the Prime Minister said.

“Driven out by an ideological group of zealots on that side of the house who have no interest in the jobs of Australians in regional areas,” he said.