WEATHERBOARD AND IRON IS BACK: NATIONALS TO WATCH IN THE NEW MORRISON-JOYCE MINISTRY

Last Friday ushered in the Morrison-Joyce ministry following the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP‘s return to the role of Deputy Prime Minister.

This National Party leadership change sees former Deputy Prime Minister the Hon Michael McCormack, Hon Darren Chester MP and Hon Mark Coulton MP be moved to the backbench.

Meanwhile, the National Party frontbench is bolstered by new and returning ministers, including the return of Senator Bridget McKenzie, the Hon Andrew Gee MP and the Hon Dr David Gillespie MP.

The team at Nexus has analysed the early dynamics in the Cabinet and outlined some of the most prominent members of Barnaby’s new Nationals team.

THE MORRISON – JOYCE RELATIONSHIP

While former Deputy PM the Hon Michael McCormack MP and the Hon Scott Morrison MP were perceived to possess a warm and effective working relationship, it remains to be seen how the new leaders of the Coalition will develop this continuing political, personal and party partnership.

Publicly, the Hon Scott Morrison MP has welcomed his new deputy. He told Karl Stefanovic that the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP is a “wind in the sails”, noting that they worked effectively in Cabinet as Treasurer and Deputy PM under the previous Turnbull government.

Likely conscious of public scrutiny, the Prime Minister will attempt to minimise the upset caused by the National leadership spill to project confidence in the Coalition’s ability to govern. Following instability in the previous LNP governments – and learning lessons from the Labor period of instability – the Prime Minister will want to appear willing and cooperative with his coalition partner.

In contrast, the recent change was a vote of confidence in the Hon Barnaby Joyce MP, who was elected partly due to the internal perception of appeasement towards the Liberals in the parliamentary National Party and threats from other political parties and independents in the regions. His colleagues, therefore, expect and demand a louder approach towards their Liberal partners. This is reflected in the Deputy PM’s posturing, telling News Corp the Prime Minister and himself are “business partners, that’s all”.

While tension points are evident, the common cause of electoral success in the upcoming general election will likely serve as a uniting force between the strained relationship. Both leaders understand the stakes when political posturing is allowed to overshadow and dominate election aims and objectives.

NATIONALS TO WATCH

LEADERSHIP

Hon Barnaby Joyce MP – Deputy Prime Minister – Member for New England

The Deputy Prime Minister returns to the role he held previously from 2016 until 2018.

During the 2017 constitutional crisis, the Member for New England was found ineligible to sit due to his dual citizenship with New Zealand, triggering a by-election he won with a 7.5% swing.

He resigned from his position as Deputy PM in 2018, sitting in the backbench until his recent re-appointment.

Before entering the House, he served as a Queensland senator from 2005 to 2018, where he was considered a ‘maverick’ member, crossing the floor 28 times.

The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP had a career as a charted accountant, opening his own practice in St, George Queensland in 1999. He has also been Chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry, Innovation, Science and Resources.

Three Things You Should Know

The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP served in the Australia Army Reserves from 1996 to 2001
He has never been afraid of speaking his mind in Parliament or the media; he crossed the Senate floor as a Senator to show his commitment to his convictions.
The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP is conservative in social and economic policy.

Hon David Littleproud MP – Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, Deputy Leader of the National Party – Member for Maranoa

The Hon David Littleproud MP retains his position in the Cabinet. His former position as Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management altered to become the Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia.

The Minister has held the seat of Maranoa in Queensland since 2016, being re-elected in 2019.

Before entering politics, he worked for the National Australia Bank (1994-2011), moving to Suncorp in 2011 as an Executive Manager, Business Banking, before being promoted to Regional Manager for Business and Agribusiness Customers in Central and South Queensland.

Three Things You Should Know

He is the third generation of his family to hold political office
He is active on social media, posting new content via Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter,
Citing agriculture as a “common thread that links each and every community across Maranoa”, expect agribusiness outcomes to be front-and-centre when dealing with the Minister.

Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie – Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education, Leader of The Nationals in the Senate – Senator for Victoria

Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie was elected to the Senate for Victoria in 2010 and re-elected in 2016.

She has been elevated from the backbench to receive several ministerial appointments after being forced to resign in 2020 due to allegations that she mis-administered community sporting grants.

She served as the Deputy Leader of the National Party from 2017 to 2020, Minister for Rural Health and Minister for Regional Communications from 2017 to 2018, Minister for Sports from 2017 to 2019 and Minister for Agriculture from 2019 to 2020.

Prior to entering politics, Senator McKenzie attained several tertiary degrees, including a Bachelor of Teaching and a Bachelor of Applied Science from Deakin University.

She was also a mathematics and physical education teacher from 2005 to 2009 and a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Monash University from 2009 to 2010.

Two Things You Should Know

Senator McKenzie is up for re-election on the 30^thof June 2022.
Senator McKenzie joined the National Party at the age of 18.
The Senator is a strong advocate for women at all levels of the party organisation and continues to lead a strong and ambitious Female National Party Senate Team with Senator Perin Davey (NSW), Senator Susan McDonald (QLD) and Senator Sam McMahon (NT).

OTHER KEY NATIONAL MINISTERS

Hon Andrew Gee MP – Minister for Defence Personnel, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs– Member for Calare

As a result of the change in leadership, The Hon Andrew Gee MP has been promoted into the cabinet team. Moving from his former position as Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education and Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment in the outer ministry to Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.

Having served as Member for Calare since 2016, the Minister is now a seasoned campaigner, having been successfully re-elected in 2019.

Prior to entering federal politics, the Hon Andrew Gee MP was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Orange in 2011, serving as a state member until 2016.

Before his political career, the Minister worked as a solicitor, gaining overseas experience in Hong Kong. He returned to Australia in 1999 and began working for Colin Biggers & Paisley, becoming a barrister in 2003.

The Hon Andrew Gee MP holds a Bachelor of Economics (Hons.) and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney.

Hon Dr David Gillespie MP – Minister Assisting the Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Regional Health – Member for Lyne

After a three-year break on the backbench, the Hon Dr David Gillespie MP returns to the regional health portfolio. Under the Turnbull government, he was also Assistant Minister for Children and Families from 2017 to 2018 and Assistant Minister for Health in 2017.

The Minister has been the Member for Lyne since 2013, where he replaced Independent Mr Rob Oakeshott MP.

Prior to entering Parliament, the Minister was a practising gastroenterologist from 1991 to 2013 and director of Physician Training at Port Macquarie Base Hospital from 1997 to 2010.

The Hon Dr David Gillespie MP holds a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

THE FUTURE OF RESOURCES AND ENERGY: THE NATIONAL’S NEW NORMAL

With the dust still settling, ministers will eagerly await to see how the cabinet reshuffle will resonate with their electorates.

The Hon Keith Pitt MP and the portfolio for Resources and Water, have been demoted from the Cabinet to the outer ministry. While The Hon Keith Pitt MP has denied any ill-feeling towards the new Deputy PM, industry leaders have responded negatively to the change. Ian Macfarlane – chief executive of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) – spoke for many voices in the industry when he expressed his disapproval of the portfolio’s move from Cabinet. With resources contributing massively to the Australian economy and water management vital in the regions, it will be interesting to see if the Nationals will receive any backlash from their regional base.

With Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan not putting his hat in the ring for a ministry under long-term friend and mentor the Hon Barnaby Joyce, pundits have speculated if a new National’s climate policy will have implications on the Liberal-National Coalition. As an outspoken and frequent critic of climate change and strong supporter of the coal industry, Matthew Canavan pushed the National party further towards the right with respect to energy policies. Whether this signals a more unified stance of the issue will be revealed in the coming sitting weeks and as election day draws nearer.