Michael McCormack named Veterans Affairs Minister in Turnbull government reshuffle

He has left the small business portfolio to take on the role vacated by Dan Tehan, who was moved into cabinet as Social Services Minister.

Former Social Services Minister Christian Porter was promoted to Attorney-General following George Brandis’ departure.

Mr McCormack said the call while he was halfway up a 45-metre tall grain silo north of Wagga.

“Only in Australian politics,” he laughed. “This is a good role, particularly for the Member for Riverina given we’ve got three defence bases in my home city and there are a lot of veterans living in and around the city.”

Mr McCormack was the Assistant Defence Minister prior to the 2016 federal election, when he was given the small business portfolio.

His return to the defence sector also brings with it a departmental responsibility.

“I was also named the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on the Anzac Centenary and given (2018) is the centenary of the end of the Great War there will be a lot of special events locally, across the nation and around the world,” Mr McCormack said.

Mr McCormack says he is proud of his achievements as the Minister for Small Business - more than 3.2 million small business owners employ 5.6 million people.

He listed key achievements of his time in the Small Business Portfolio including extending the instant asset write-off, changing the definition of a small business from up to a $2 million turnover to up to a $10 million turnover, tax cuts for small and medium businesses, strengthening section 46 of the Competition and Consumer Act and simplifying GST reporting, reducing payment terms for Government contracts up to $1 million and redesigning the Australia Small Business Advisory Service program.

Mr McCormack thanked portfolio stakeholders for their support and wished Craig Laundy – the new Minister for Small and Family Business, Workplace and Deregulation – well.