General News
5 June, 2025
Chaffey to take on assistant ministry roles in shadow cabinet
Parkes electorate member-elect, Jamie Chaffey, will take on two assistant ministry roles in The Nationals’ new shadow cabinet as part of a coalition, the party announced on May 29.
Mr Chaffey won the seat of Parkes at the federal election in early May, replacing the retiring Nationals’ member, Mark Coulton.
The announcement comes after an extraordinary week in federal politics for the conservatives, which dramatically split at the direction of The Nationals’ federal leader, David Littleproud, reportedly due to unresolved policy discrepancies, only to then suddenly “reunify” on May 28.
Mr Chaffey will take on dual assistant ministry roles in the new coalition shadow cabinet.
“[The coalition] will be dedicated to holding the Labor Government to account for the next three years, and I am proud to be included in the shadow ministry, and to serve as ‘Shadow Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Shadow Assistant Minister for Resources’,” Mr Chaffey said.
Mr Chaffey will assist federal Nationals’ leader, Mr Littleproud, who holds the shadow agriculture portfolio.
Parkes electorate, one of the largest electorates geographically in Australia, covers 20 local government areas and the Unincorporated Far West Area, with two of the major economic drivers being the agricultural and resources sectors.
“As the newly elected Member for Parkes, my duty will always be to serve the people of the Parkes electorate, and in this new role I will have a greater capacity to advocate on their behalf,” Mr Chaffey said.
In announcing the new shadow cabinet, David Littleproud said regional Australians deserve a “bigger say on a broader range of issues. The new team that I lead will work every day to give regional Australians hope and a future,” Mr Littleproud said. “Our priority is the third of Australians who live outside capital cities,” he added.
“Regional Australia is the backbone of this nation and our economy is underpinned by the wealth created from the regions in mining, industry and agriculture.
“When regional Australia does well, all of Australia does well,” Mr Litteproud said. “That’s why the team that I lead will now look forward, not back, and focus on the future, in the best interests of Australia.” Newly-elected Mr Chaffey concurs.
“It is my belief that our values, and focus on regional Australia, combined with our strong policies, will give strength to our coalition partners to enable a coalition government to come to power at the next election,” Mr Chaffey concluded.
