Returned Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce announced his new ministerial line-up on Sunday afternoon, rewarding his supporters and dumping key cabinet member Darren Chester.
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Member for Calare Andrew Gee comes into cabinet, replacing Mr Chester as Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel.
Mark Coulton loses his role as Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government.
Senator Bridget McKenzie will return to cabinet, less than 18 months after resigning in the wake of the sport rorts scandal, taking up the role of Minister for Regional Education, Regional Communications and Decentralisation.
David Gillespie comes back to the frontbench as Minister for Regional Health.
Kevin Hogan takes on the role of Minister for Local Government and remains Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister.
Michelle Landry remains Assistant Minister for Children and Families, but loses the role of Assistant Minister for Northern Australia. Senator Susan McDonald will take on those responsibilities as a special envoy for Northern Australia.
Mark Coulton loses his all his roles as Minister for Regional Health, Regional Communications and Local Government.
Keith Pitt, currently Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia, will move from the cabinet to the outer ministry.
Mr Joyce said the demotion was not a signal about the importance of resources to his government.
"Keith Pitt will be remain over this portfolio like a bad suit. He's been doing a great job he will continue on doing a good job," Mr Joyce told reporters on Sunday afternoon.
The reshuffle came as the political career of one of Mr Joyce's backers, Senator Sam McMahon, became terminal on Saturday after she lost her Country Liberal Party preselection battle for her Northern Territory Senate seat to Alice Spring deputy mayor Jacinta Price.
Ms McMahon said she respected the result of the ballot and thanked her supporters.
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Harley Dennett
Former federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC. Telling the stories of my local LGBTI community brought me to political journalism, where I've covered eight budgets, four national elections in two countries, Defence, public service and international governance.
Former federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC. Telling the stories of my local LGBTI community brought me to political journalism, where I've covered eight budgets, four national elections in two countries, Defence, public service and international governance.
