FEDERAL Member for Mallee Anne Webster has backed The Nationals’ new leadership team following a party room vote in Canberra on Tuesday morning.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has repelled a leadership challenge from Barnaby Joyce, emerging victorious after a party room ballot.
Queensland frontbencher David Littleproud was elected deputy Nationals leader, replacing Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie, who quit over the sports “rorts” scandal.
Ms Webster told Sunraysia Daily she was pleased with Mr McCormack and Mr Littleproud’s engagement with issues in the Mallee and believed the outcome of Tuesday’s vote would provide stability for the party.
“Clearly this puts a line in the sand with regards to the leadership and I’m pleased about that,” she said.
“We need to move on, we need to stop talking about ourselves and do the job we are elected to do which is to work for the interests of our electorate.
“I believe both Michael and David have proven themselves in their roles and I’m pleased with their engagement with issues I’ve raised with them in Mallee.
“I look forward to seeing some really good responsiveness from them on those issues going forward.”
Mr Littleproud, who defeated backbench MPs David Gillespie and Keith Pitt in the ballot for deputy leadership, said it was time to get back to work.
“The shenanigans are over,” he said.
“It’s time to get back to looking after those people that are facing drought, that have faced up to the fires. It’s time for us to focus on them, not us.”
Senator McKenzie became the first female federal agriculture minister in May last year. Mr McCormack has stepped into the vacancy until another member is appointed.
Last month, Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked his department secretary to investigate Senator McKenzie’s handling of the $100 million sports grant program after it was revealed a grant was awarded to a Victorian clay target club of which Senator McKenzie was a member.
It was alleged that grants were awarded to clubs based in seats the Coalition sought to target at the 2019 federal election.
Dr Webster said she had spoken to Senator McKenzie on Sunday and was “disappointed” at her resignation.
“I believe Bridget was an outstanding minister for agriculture and an outstanding advocate and minister for sport,” she said.
“I think it’s just been a really tough process for her to get through and I respect our ministerial standards are high for a good reason and the Australian public expects transparency and accountability for our ministers and their behaviours.
“It is what it is, and we move forward and I look forward to continuing to work with Bridget on the team.”
While the agriculture portfolio remains up in the air, Dr Webster hoped the next minister would have a broad understanding of the industry and “hit the ground running”.
“My expectation is they would have sufficient experience in agriculture in the agriculture industry on the issues our agriculture industry is facing, whether it’s trade agreements, water, resources in general, other input costs including seasonal workforce,” she said.
— with AAP
