‘Not been predicated on experience': Jacinta Nampijinpa Price fumes at Ley's new look frontbench, whilst Hogan remains tight-lipped on Joyce axing

Sky News AU

6 days ago

Ex shadow minister for Indigenous Australians Jacinta Nampijinpa Price has criticised the composition of the Coalition's new frontbench, stating 'it would have been good to have some really good fighters in there", while Nationals deputy Kevin Hogan refused to elaborate on Barnaby Joyce's cabinet axing
Sussan Ley, flanked by Nationals leader David Littleproud unveiled the long-anticipated shadow ministry on Wednesday after striking a new Coalition agreement, with the two parties tentatively agreeing to settle their disagreements and reunite after the week-long split delayed the announcement.
The revised shadow cabinet has seen multiple new faces elevated and a myriad of senior party figures banished to the backbench.
Jane Hume, the architect of the Coalition's tumultuous work-from-home policy and Victorian Senator Sarah Henderson were removed from the frontbench completely, while Senator Price, who recently abandoned the Nationals for the Liberals was demoted from the Indigenous Australians portfolio to defence industry.
The two party leaders rewarded their supporters with key spots in the new Coalition frontbench, with deputy leader Ted O'Brien taking Angus Taylor's position as shadow treasurer, with Mr Taylor shifted to defence.
Moderate Liberals Andrew Bragg, Dave Sharma and newly elected MP for Goldstein Tim Wilson are entering the economic team, while Julian Leeser will return as attorney-general after forfeiting the role in 2023 to campaign for the Voice to Parliament.
Ms Price, who likely would have maintained her spot in the shadow cabinet had she not abandoned the National Party said that numerous colleagues were dissatisfied with the make-up of the shadow cabinet, and that many of the recipients lacked sufficient 'merit'.
'I have no doubt that there are some of my colleagues who are feeling upset about the decisions that have been made,' she said speaking to Sky News host Peta Credlin.
'I'll be honest to say that there are some appointments that have not been predicated on experience or merit, but this is the team we have to work with going forward."
The Northern Territory Senator, who was offered the chance to contest a lower house seat by the Liberal Party during the last parliamentary term further revealed 'it would have been good to have some really good fighters in there' and stated she was disappointed she had been booted from the inner ministry.
"I'm not going to lie and say that I'm not disappointed that I am not within cabinet itself but I did say when I decided to move to the Liberal Party room that as part of the Coalition we needed to rebuild and that I would be taking whatever position I'm in very seriously'.
'I think it's no secret I backed in Sarah Henderson. I thought she did a remarkable job in the education portfolio and did a great deal of work that she didn't get the opportunity to further and particularly during the election as well,' Ms Price said.
Senator Price defected to the Liberal Party to join then shadow treasurer Mr Taylor's leadership bid and was expected to nominate herself for the deputy leader position, however redacted her candidacy after Ms Ley secured the top spot.
'I absolutely don't regret my move. I think I made it clear that this is something that I'd wanted to do when I was very first elected before my previous term'.
'I have the opportunity to work closely with Angus Taylor and of course, Phil Thompson, who I think are great for these particular positions as well,' Ms Price said, referring to her fellow defense colleagues.
Meanwhile, Nationals deputy leader Kevin Hogan resoundingly backed in Mr Littleproud's comments that the cabinet reshuffle represented a 'generational change' and refused to elaborate on the rationale behind relegating former party leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce from shadow cabinet.
'I'm not going to go into that. I mean that's David's decision and he has his reasons for that,' Mr Hogan said.
'We're a pretty small team, the Nats, and we're close colleagues and I regard both of them as friends and look, they have made amazing contributions in their parliamentary careers.'
Mr Joyce outspokenly slammed Mr Littleproud's decision to exit the Coalition and labelled the generational change comment as 'ridiculous', citing that some of the people promoted to replace him were in fact older than him.
'The two people that are replacing Michael and Barnaby are quite, you know, a lot newer entrants to parliament and so that was the reason that David said that so look they're going to be exciting people," Mr Hogan stated.