Tasmanian MP Julie Collins has been urged to be a “champion for sensible policies” for the farm sector after being announced as Australia’s new Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in a cabinet reshuffle on Sunday.

Ms Collins is the Federal Member for the southern Tasmanian seat of Franklin, the southernmost electorate in Australia, located around Hobart, and taking in the Huon Valley – an area renowned for its apple orchards – and the Tasmanian World Heritage Area.

The 53-year-old won the Seat aged 36 at the 2007 election and has retained it in the five Federal elections since.

Prior to entering Parliament she worked in various administrative positions for Tasmanian Labor MPs and state government departments, including State Premier Jim Bacon from 1998 to 2003.

She was also the State President of Young Labor in 1996 and served as state secretary of the ALP from 2006 to 2007.

In Federal Opposition she served in the shadow cabinet in roles including Shadow Minister for Regional Development and Local Government, Shadow Minister for Ageing and Mental Health, Shadow Minister for Women and Shadow Minister for Agriculture.

In the present Albanese Government since 2022 she was appointed Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness and Minister for Small Business.

Her register of minister’s interests records she is a member of several community, sporting and industry organisations including Huon Agricultural Society and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA).

In yesterday’s reshuffle was she was appointed Federal Minister for Agriculture , Fisheries and Forestry– replacing Senator Murray Watt who was named Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations.

Ms Collins will also retain her position as Minister for Small Business.

Supporting Ms Collins as Assistance Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry will be ALP Senator for Queensland Anthony Chisholm, who also has roles as Assistant Minister for Education and Assistant Minister for Regional Development.

Reaction

National Farmers Federation President David Jochinke welcomed Minister Collins and Assistant Minister Chisholm to their roles, calling on them to work collaboratively with an industry that is of “enormous strategic importance”.

“The farm sector is central to Australia’s climate and energy plans, as well as our economic prosperity.

“Most importantly, a thriving farm sector means quality, affordable produce for Aussie families amid cost-of-living pressures.

“We hope Minister Collins will be a champion for sensible policies to support and grow our farm sector.”

Mr Jochinke said Minister Watt’s time would most likely be remembered for its heated conflicts with the sector – from live sheep, to water buybacks, to the biosecurity tax proposal and visa disputes.

“There’s no doubt we’ve seen some policies that have deeply impacted and enraged our sector.

“But we also acknowledge his partnership and willingness to work with the sector on sustainability, establishing the workplace tripartite working group, and delivery of enhanced funding for biosecurity. His commitment to normalising our trade with China and ensuring Australian agriculture didn’t end up with a bad deal in the EU free trade agreement will also be remembered well.

“With Minister Watt now leading the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio, we hope his knowledge of producers’ concerns surrounding the recent industrial relations changes means their concerns are addressed.”

Grains Producer Australia chair Barry Large said the new combination of Agriculture and Small Business for Minister Collins made sense, recognising that because farmers are also running businesses of different sizes and locations that face many challenges not limited to constants seasonal and market fluctuations.

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said while the incoming Federal Agriculture Minister had a big task ahead of her, the portfolio was also a unique opportunity to drive positive change within the sector to keep farmers farming.

Mr Martin said Senator Watt’s experience as Agriculture Minister would be vital as he stepped into the workplace relations role, with labour shortages a major constraint for farmers.

“Former Employment Minister Tony Burke was deaf to our concerns about the practical impacts of legislative changes, but hopefully Senator Watt’s experience with farmers will help him deliver better outcomes.”

Tasmanian Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, said Minister Collins “now holds the pen on some of the most critically important industries to Tasmania’s economic prosperity”.

She said one of the first decisions Minister Collins must make is to immediately scrap “the flawed biosecurity protection levy bill”.

“The Federal Government also needs to immediately fund its share of the Greater South-East Irrigation Scheme so that the project can be delivered.

“I also call on Minister Collins to help fight for an expansion to the Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme (TFES) to help reduce the cost of freight for fodder and feed for all of Tasmania, as many Tasmanian farmers battle through heartbreaking drought conditions.

“Unlike farmers on the mainland, Tasmanians don’t have road and rail options to secure the additional feed and fodder they need to ensure positive animal welfare outcomes and the existing level of TFES support per freight unit has simply not kept pace with the significant increase in costs in recent years.”

Full list of changes announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

Cabinet changes

Tony Burke MP – Minister for Home Affairs; Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs; Minister for Cyber Security; Minister for the Arts; Leader of the House

Julie Collins MP – Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Minister for Small Business

Senator Murray Watt – Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

Clare O’Neil MP – Minister for Housing; Minister for Homelessness

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy – Minister for Indigenous Australians

Pat Conroy MP – Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery; Minister for International Development and the Pacific

Ministry changes

Andrew Giles MP – Minister for Skills and Training

Senator Jenny McAllister – Minister for Cities; Minister for Emergency Management

Assistant Ministry changes

Matt Thistlethwaite MP – Assistant Minister for Immigration

Patrick Gorman MP – Assistant to the Prime Minister; Assistant Minister for the Public Service; Assistant Minister to the Attorney-General

Ged Kearney MP – Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care; Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health

Senator Tim Ayres – Assistant Minister for a Future Made In Australia; Assistant Minister for Trade

Senator Anthony Chisholm – Assistant Minister for Education; Assistant Minister for Regional Development; Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Kate Thwaites MP – Assistant Minister for Social Security; Assistant Minister for Ageing; Assistant Minister for Women

Josh Wilson MP – Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy

Julian Hill MP – Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs

Special Envoy changes

Peter Khalil MP – Special Envoy for Social Cohesion

Luke Gosling MP – Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans’ Affairs and Northern Australia

Andrew Charlton MP – Special Envoy for Cyber Security and Digital Resilience