Farmer frustration as water dumped from Cabinet in Nationals reshuffle

It’s arguably one of the Nationals’ most important portfolios – so why has water been dumped from federal Cabinet?

Nationals’ leader Barnaby Joyce’s ministerial reshuffle has raised concern among farmers. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Farmers and irrigators are disappointed that arguably one of the most important portfolios in resource management has been dumped from federal Cabinet.

Just days after the Nationals attempted to force drastic changes to the Murray Darling Basin Plan in parliament, new Nats leader and Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has moved the water portfolio to the outer ministry.

Keith Pitt will remain Resources and Water Minister but no longer serve in Cabinet, in a reshuffle that rewarded Mr Joyce’s supporters in last week’s leadership spill.

The water portfolio, which includes management of the Murray Darling Basin, has long been a Cabinet responsibility in both Coalition and Labor governments, sitting with either environment or agriculture. The environment portfolio – which still has control of environmental water management – remains in Cabinet.

The decision also meant mining was also dumped from Cabinet, after Mr Joyce declared the Nats’ would have “a laser-like focus” on mining communities – and in the same week Australia’s mining and energy exports hit $310 billion.

National Irrigators’ Council chair Jeremy Morton said carving out water was “an interesting decision”.

“Given the extremely important role water and water management has in the prosperity of the nation, I would have thought it should be part of Cabinet,” he said.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano said it was “astounding” water would no longer be a Cabinet priority.

“It sends a really bad message of the Government’s understanding of just how important water is, not just to farmers, but everybody,” she said.

“Water needs a seat at the table – it’s perplexing to me it’s been removed.”

Ms Germano said it was evident internal “argy bargy” was behind some of the decisions: “It shouldn’t be about the people, it should be about the importance of the portfolio.”

National Farmers’ Federation chief executive Tony Mahar said it was “difficult to understand” why water did not warrant Cabinet representation “similar to other portfoilios such as veterans affairs”, but trusted the fact it was still a standalone ministry showed it was a critical policy area.

The Nationals wrested back control of water from the Liberals in 2015, in a push by Mr Joyce for the portfolio to sit with agriculture, not environment.

Last week, Nationals MPs and senators tried to introduce changes to the basin plan – including removing requirements to deliver an extra 450GL – which were quickly shut down by the Liberals, and prompted Labor to demand the Nationals be stripped of their water responsibilities.

Mr Joyce’s reshuffle also saw Victorian senator Bridget McKenzie, who voted for Mr Joyce, return to Cabinet 18 months after resigning over the sports rorts scandal.

She will be Minister for Regionalisation – the rebranded decentralisation agenda – Regional Communications, Regional Education and Emergency Management.

Another Joyce supporter, NSW MP Andrew Gee, has been promoted to Cabinet as Veteran Affairs’ Minister, with Victorian MP Darren Chester dumped from the ministry altogether.

David Littleproud will continue as Agriculture Minister and add Northern Australia to his responsibilities.