Hon Michael McCormack MP

Prior to entering Parliament Michael began professional life as a cadet with Wagga Wagga’s The Daily Advertiser. Aged 27 he was appointed to the newspaper’s editorship, becoming the youngest person appointed to edit a daily newspaper in Australasia at the time. During his career at the newspaper, Michael was a champion of many community issues. He is most proud of the significant part he played in helping to save Wagga Wagga’s Royal Australian Air Force base from closure in 1997, which not only resulted in the retention of the base but the expansion of its role in the region. Michael then established and ran a family-owned small publishing business in Wagga Wagga until his election to Parliament. Michael was elected as The Nationals’ Member for Riverina on 21 August 2010. Following the 2013 Federal Election, Michael was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Finance and in September 2015 he was then appointed Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister. Following the retirement of Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss in February 2016 Michael become the Assistant Minister for Defence. After the 2016 Federal Election, Michael was appointed Federal Small Business Minister – advocating for the nation’s 3.2 million small businesses before becoming Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC just prior to Christmas 2017. On 26 February 2018, Michael became the 14th Leader of The Nationals and the 18th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. He also became the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport.