Reshuffle threatens to undo Scott Morrison’s unity push

Under pressure ... Michael McCormack and Scott Morrison. Picture: AAP

It is absurd to suggest that the latest Morrison-McCormack ministry is the best available for the government. Not only is it short of talent and unbalanced, it also threatens the stability of the Nationals and the Coalition itself.

The Prime Minister has “accepted” the ministerial recommendations from the Nationals’ leader and in so doing has endorsed a dangerous “winner-takes-all” and “job-for-a-vote” atmosphere.

The refusal to promote on talent, the refusal to promote leadership opponents and to disproportionately allocate portfolios has created the potential for a rebellious rump of Nationals’ MPs. Barnaby Joyce’s “corner” in the House of Representatives now houses enough MPs to exercise a balance-of-power vote that can deny the Coalition’s agenda.

After Morrison’s “miracle” victory restored the Coalition to a majority government free of the debilitating and destabilising control of maverick independents, Nationals’ bitter disunity has resurrected the spectre of the chaos at the end of Malcolm Turnbull’s leadership.

Ironically, Morrison’s fight back to majority government and election victory was based on a ministry that included his leadership opponent, Peter Dutton, people who voted for Dutton and ministers who had resigned during the Turnbull leadership chaos.

Morrison even found jobs for former Liberal and Nationals leaders Tony Abbott and Joyce as part of his campaign to unify the Coalition and struggle through with a minority government held to ransom by independents.

Yet on Thursday he was forced to announce a new ministry that did not include former resources minister Matt Canavan, whom Morrison went out of his way to praise for his “great work” and passionate engagement in Queensland.

Canavan’s replacement, Keith Pitt, a Joyce supporter until Canavan’s job became available, was not only pitchforked from the backbench straight into cabinet with the responsibilities of resources and northern Australia but also given the onerous and politically difficult water portfolio.

At the same time, Darren Chester keeps his single portfolio of veterans’ affairs as he is lifted into cabinet to make up the Nationals’ numbers.

Notwithstanding the popular promotion of veterans’ affairs into cabinet, these promotions underline the lack of talent and experience in the Nationals.

Only David Littleproud, who as the newly elected deputy leader was given the key portfolio of agriculture to add to emergency services and drought, appears to have a balanced load.

The weakness of the Nationals has been hidden since the federal election but it is now being revealed — and it threatens the very unity for which Morrison has fought so hard.