Nats Named In Shadow Cabinet

May 28, 2025

The “trial separation” of the Nationals and Liberal Party is over, with Nationals Leader David Littleproud appointed on Wednesday to the new Shadow Cabinet.

The Member for Maranoa will serve as the Shadow Agriculture Minister.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley announced her new Shadow Ministry at a joint press conference in Canberra with Mr Littleproud.

The announcement follows days of negotiations between the two former Coalition partners.

The other Nationals in the Shadow Cabinet are:

• NSW Senator Ross Cadell (Water, Fisheries and Forestry and Emergency Management)

• NSW MP Kevin Hogan (Trade, Investment and Tourism, deputy manager of Opposition Business in the House)

• Queensland Senator James McGrath (Special Minister of State, spokesman for Urban Infrastructure and Cities, Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games)

• Queensland Senator Susan McDonald (Resources and Northern Australia)

• Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie (Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, leader of the Nationals in the Senate)

Former Nationals’ leaders Michael McCormack and Barnaby Joyce were overlooked in the selection, as was Member for Flynn Colin Boyce who openly criticised Mr Littleproud’s leadership of the party in recent days.

Fellow critic Matt Canavan reportedly rejected a senior position so he could be free to speak from the backbench.

Also missing out on a Shadow Cabinet position was Nationals’ defector Jacinta Nampijinpa Price who was named in the Outer Shadow Ministry as spokeswoman for Defence Industry and Defence Personnel.

Other Nationals in the Outer Shadow Ministry are:

• NSW MP Pat Conaghan (Shadow Assistant Treasurer, spokesman for Financial Services)

• Victorian MP Anne Webster (Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Regional Communications)

Mr Littleproud said “the focus now” would be on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Labor Government and “holding them to account”.

  Rural