Julie Collins is the new minister for agriculture, fisheries and forestry. After the weekend Cabinet reshuffle. Collins was previously minister for small business and shadow agriculture minister prior to the election in May 2022. Former agriculture minister Murray Watt has taken over the employment and workplace relations portfolio.

Lobby organisation Australian Dairy Farmers’ president Ben Bennett was hopeful the new  minister would be more empathetic, given the importance of dairy in her home state of Tasmania. Bennett said issues such as climate change, a stable electricity grid and immigration were front of mind for dairy farmers. The president welcomed an opportunity to meet with Collins “when the time is right.”