Nationals in key shadow ministry portfolios
8th December, 2009
The Leader of The Nationals, Warren Truss, has warmly welcomed the new shadow ministry line-up announced today by Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, saying this was the team best placed to take the fight up to a faltering Rudd Labor Government.The Coalition was now united in its opposition to the Rudd Government’s ongoing failures in the areas of regional Australia, economic management, border security and climate change.
“I am very pleased to maintain my portfolio responsibilities for trade, transport, regional development and local government,” Mr Truss said.
“These are critically important fields where the Federal Government has failed to live up to its grandiose promises.
“I look forward to working closely with my Nationals’ colleague Mark Coulton who takes on the shadow parliamentary secretary role for regional development and emerging trade markets. I am pleased to have continuing in the team Don Randall and Ian Macdonald, who are mighty advocates in their respective areas of roads and transport and northern Australia.
“Nationals’ Deputy Leader Nigel Scullion requested and has received the portfolio of indigenous affairs, an area where he has a keen interest not only in the Northern Territory but all of Australia. He will make a real difference.
“John Cobb maintains agriculture, fisheries and forestry and gains responsibility for food security, which reflects the significance the Coalition places on guaranteeing our future food supplies.
“I welcome Barnaby Joyce’s appointment to the frontbench as Shadow Minister for Finance and Debt Reduction. Barnaby is a fighter for regional Australia and small business, and is uniquely placed to expose Labor’s ongoing failures on the economy and getting debt under control.
“Luke Hartsuyker has had financial services, superannuation and corporate law added to his existing responsibility for consumer affairs, demonstrating his ability to deal with hard work and get results on exposing ludicrous Government policies like FuelWatch.
“I thank John Forrest for his excellent work assisting me as parliamentary secretary on regional development, and before that on trade, and I am sorry that a position could not be found for him in the current shadow ministry team.
“This is a Nationals’ team made up of genuine and practical Australians who are passionate and intelligent fighters for regional people.
“It dovetails extremely well with the Liberal frontbench appointees and places a lazy and do-nothing Labor team on notice that its time will soon be up,” Mr Truss said.
