Key farm ministries uncertain

It follows months of speculation where the veteran Queensland MP has refused to say conclusively whether he would be continuing past the next election for his Wide Bay electorate that he’s already been pre-selected for.

Federal Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Barnaby Joyce has been widely tipped to become the next National Party leader.

But it’s unclear if Mr Joyce would retain his current portfolio responsibilities or take-on Mr Truss’s Infrastructure and Regional Development Ministry, if a leadership change eventuated.

In a shock move, Federal Trade and Investment Minister and Liberal MP Andrew Robb has also today indicated he is retiring from federal politics.

Mr Robb confirmed his intention to stand down from federal politics effective at the next election.

“After 12 fulfilling and eventful years I feel the time is right,” he said.

“At 64 and in excellent health I plan to move on to my next career which will be in some capacity in the private sector.

“I will leave politics in the comfort of knowing that both the Turnbull Government and the Coalition are in great shape.

“It’s an opportune time to hand over the baton to the talented next generation in our party.”

Mr Robb has been regarded as an outstanding performer for the Coalition government signing Free Trade Agreements with China, Korea and Japan that have cut tariffs and opened farm export opportunities.

Last week he also signed the Trans Pacific Partnership deal in NZ which still requires ratification by federal parliament.

Calls to Mr Robb’s office have not been returned while National Party sources say Mr Truss is likely to detail his plans to colleagues tomorrow in an unscheduled party room meeting but may not actually step down, resulting in a leadership ballot.

With a federal cabinet reshuffle hinging on the outcome of Mr Truss’s retirement decision and Mr Robb’s pending departure, National Farmers Federation Brent Finlay said there could be three new ministers holding the farm sector’s three key portfolios.

“Andrew Robb has been outstanding and the best Trade Minister this country has ever had and the proof is there in the trade agreements that have been signed but there’s still a lot more work to do,” he said.

“The National Party’s leadership will pan out itself – but if Warren Truss does retire and is no longer the Minister, and is replaced by Barnaby Joyce, we could potentially have three new ministers in the three main agriculture portfolios.”

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also has to consider broader ministry changes - which could see highly-rated rural Liberal MPs Angus Taylor and Dan Tehan promoted - with the departure of junior ministers Jamie Briggs and Mal Brough in recent months.

A cloud also hangs over the future of Human Services Minister Stuart Robert due to an investigation into whether the ministerial code of conduct was breached resulting from a trip he made to China in 2014, as a private citizen.

Today, Mr Joyce answered leadership questions when he fronted media in Canberra saying, “We’ve always had an assertive and robust National Party and an assertive and robust Liberal Party and they’ve worked well together”.

“At times they may have their differences but find me a husband and wife that doesn’t at times have their differences,” he said.

Mr Joyce restated his position that he’d be loyal to Mr Truss in public and private “for as long as Warren wishes to be leader because that is the role of the deputy to support their leader – and the deputy PM of Australia”.

“If at some stage, whenever of his choosing, he decides to hang up the boots then of course I’ve indicated and have years ago that I will throw my hat in the ring,” he said.

“Anything away from that is just really adding to the conjecture.

“I just don’t go around white-anting friends.”

One party source said they believed Mr Joyce still had the numbers to win any potential  leadership ballot but as many as seven candidates could challenge for the deputy’s post.

The National Party and Mr Turnbull will also need to consider the merits of Queensland members who are demanding stronger senior representation given they comprise 40 per cent of the party’s 21 federal members – but face the risk of having no-one in the ministry, if and when Mr Truss departs.

Assistant Minister to Mr Truss and NSW MP Michael McCormack has recently been speculated as a leadership contender but has stated publicly, “There’s absolutely no ring to be throwing any hat into at the moment”.

Others in the ministry include; Rural Health Minister and NSW Senator Fiona Nash; Vocational Education and Skills Minister and NSW MP Luke Hartsuyker; and Assistant Defence Minister and Victorian MP Darren Chester.

NT Senator Nigel Scullion would be likely to retain his cabinet position as Indigenous Affairs Minister.

Mr Turnbull said Mr Robb was engaged in ongoing free trade negotiations with important trade partners “which we hope to bring to a successful conclusion in the not too distant future”.

“I will announce new ministerial arrangements in due course,” he said.