Local MP Jason Wood has been dumped from the new shadow ministry as Angus Taylor takes the reins of the party in a tumultuous week for the Liberals.
The almost 20-year MP for La Trobe was shadow minister for international development and Pacific Island affairs under former opposition leader Sussan Ley and has expressed no bad blood over the relegation to the backbench, supporting the many younger colleagues now taking on high roles.
Mr Wood did not share who exactly he voted for in the party room last Friday, where Mr Taylor defeated Ms Ley 34 votes to 17, prompting the latter to announce her resignation from politics.
Mr Wood never made clear his intended support prior to the spill, but did defend Ms Ley’s actions in handling the split with the Nationals.
He denied that the drop from the shadow ministry was in relation to any of his actions during the leadership change.
“I get on really well with Angus, I get on really well with Sussan,” he said.
“If you notice in the overall media, I wasn’t lobbying for anyone like I’ve done heavily before, when it was Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull, so I get on really well with Angus and I congratulate Angus.
“The one thing which has been disappointing is the fighting in the party, so hopefully that settles down.
“I’ve got no issue at all. In some ways, I’m quite relieved because I want to spend more time with the family.”
Prior to his previous role, Mr Wood was shadow minister for community safety, migrant services and multicultural affairs under the shadow ministry of former MP and leader Peter Dutton.
Ms Ley served as leader for less than a year. Despite commentary suggesting that she was not given a fair chance by her party, Mr Wood said Ms Ley “gave it everything” and that the “hand was badly dealt” when the Nationals decided to split the Coalition twice.
“When the public got sick of it, the polls then went after her, and that was kind of the reason she lost.
“I’ve been through so many. My first leadership battle I saw was after John Howard lost the election in 2007, so I don’t know how many I’ve seen in the meantime, but that’s the game I’m in, so you just accept the way it is.”
Mr Taylor returns to the leadership of the party under the conservative faction, and speculation has already emerged of an attempt to lurch the party to the right, particularly on immigration policy.
The new leader said in his first speech that immigration policy will be developed that “puts Australian values at the centre” and that numbers entering the country have been “too high” and standards “too low.”
A leaked immigration policy is alleged to stipulate the banning of migrants from regions in 13 countries, including Palestine, the Philippines and Afghanistan.
Mr Wood denied that it is official policy, while the new leader said he is not aware of it.
However, Mr Wood was supportive of the new wording around Australian values.
“I’m a very, very strong believer that anyone who comes to our country must sign up for our values and beliefs.
“I go to every citizenship function pretty much in Cardinia and they swear to that, so they have to stick to that.”
The new shadow ministry has elevated many from Mr Taylor’s faction, while also filling some key roles with moderates.
Tim Wilson takes the treasury portfolio and Deputy Leader Senator Jane Hume takes employment and industrial relations.
The industry and sovereign capability portfolio goes to Andrew Hastie and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price is now shadow minister for skills and training.
Younger Liberal have been promoted, such as Casey MP Aaron Violi, who takes on the portfolios of digital economy, science, technology and innovation, and cyber security.
