Senator Bridget McKenzie is making history as Australia’s first female Minister for Agriculture.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced his new federal government ministry, appointing Senator McKenzie into the position as Minister for Agriculture. Senator McKenzie will also be the first Victorian to hold this position since MP Peter McGauran was Agricultural Minister from 2005 to 2007.
The Senator is from Alexandra, a regional centre in Victoria, and so has grown up with traditional rural influences of small business, sport and agriculture. Senator McKenzie strongly believes that the key to prosperity is developing and maintaining strong regional communities.
Prior to her roles in politics, Senator McKenzie was a secondary mathematics and physical education teacher. She stayed in this position for four years, before becoming a university for Education at Monash University. This position instilled her passion for education and youth, which are values she has kept with her through her political life.
The Nationals Party member has served as a Senator for Victoria since 2010, and was re-elected into the position in 2016. The following year, she was elected as the Deputy Leader of the Nationals Party.
One challenge Senator McKenzie faces in her new role is the ongoing drought felt by many farmers. Senator McKenzie promises to work with former the Minister for Agriculture and current Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, to address this issue with practical solutions.
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