Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has unceremoniously dumped one of his party’s best performers, taking over the transport and infrastructure portfolio from Darren Chester in this week’s cabinet reshuffle.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on Tuesday announced his new cabinet, after a reshuffle was triggered by the news Attorney-General George Brandis will leave Parliament to replace Alexander Downer as Australia’s high commissioner to the UK.
Chester, a National who has been the transport and infrastructure minister for the Turnbull Government since February 2016, was dropped from cabinet entirely.
Chester was reportedly offered an assistant minister role, but turned it down.
Joyce, formerly the minister for agriculture, has reportedly had his eye on the infrastructure portfolio for quite some time, and is looking to be the champion of the Inland Rail project – a big-ticket item in the portfolio, and a key issue for many Nationals voters.
Addressing the media after the reshuffle was announced, Turnbull emphasised Chester’s snubbing was not his decision, as it is up to the Nationals leader to choose Nationals ministers.
“Barnaby Joyce will no doubt be able to answer this directly,” the PM said. “Plainly the Nationals have a very large component of their party room that comes from Queensland, and Barnaby was keen to see that reflected in their representatives in the cabinet.”
Chester is one of just four Nationals MPs from Victoria. New deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie is also from Victoria.
One of the Nationals’ more progressive figureheads, Chester is a strong supporter of same-sex marriage, and has also advocated the party have more women in senior positions – backing McKenzie’s bid for deputy leader over the early favourite, Matt Canavan.
The ousted minister was clearly disappointed by the move.
“I don’t think my loyalty to the leadership team has ever been questioned,” Chester told a press conference. “I’ve gone above and beyond on many occasions to support the prime minister and the deputy prime minister, Barnaby Joyce.”
Taking Chester’s spot on the Nationals’ frontbench is newcomer David Littleproud, who will take on Joyce’s agriculture portfolio.
The appointment of Littleproud – 41, and only in Parliament since 2016 – has reportedly angered some longer-standing Nationals MPs, who were perhaps looking for a cabinet position of their own.
Shadow transport and infrastructure minister Anthony Albanese lambasted Joyce’s decisions.
“It appears that the sort of division and arguments that we’ve seen within the Liberal Party are about to begin within the National Party, as a result of what’s quite a vindictive reshuffle, really,” Albanese said on Sky News.
“I think there will be an ongoing instability going into 2018 as a result of this reshuffle.”
In a separate statement, the shadow minister offered condolences to his ousted opposite number.
“I wish outgoing minister Darren Chester all the best on what must be a difficult day following his shabby and appalling treatment by his own side,” Albanese said.
Other moves made in the reshuffle include the appointment of former social services minister Christian Porter to replace Brandis as attorney-general, while finance minister Mathias Cormann will take on Brandis’ role as Senate leader.
Former employment minister Michaelia Cash becomes minister for jobs and innovation, which incorporates the industry portfolio.
Urban infrastructure and cities minister Paul Fletcher held on to his portfolio.