Bridget McKenzie
Bridget McKenzie (born 27 December 1969) is an Australian politician. She is a member of the National Party and has been a Senator for Victoria since 2011. She has held ministerial office in the Turnbull and Morrison governments, also serving as the party's Senate leader since 2019.
Senator The Honourable Bridget McKenzie | |
|---|---|
McKenzie in 2019 | |
| Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience | |
| In office 2 July 2021 – 23 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | David Littleproud |
| Succeeded by | Murray Watt |
| Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education | |
| In office 2 July 2021 – 23 May 2022 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Mark Coulton |
| Succeeded by | Abolished |
| Deputy Leader of the National Party | |
| In office 7 December 2017 – 2 February 2020 | |
| Leader | Barnaby Joyce Michael McCormack |
| Preceded by | Fiona Nash |
| Succeeded by | David Littleproud |
| Minister for Agriculture | |
| In office 29 May 2019 – 2 February 2020 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | David Littleproud |
| Succeeded by | David Littleproud |
| Minister for Regional Services, Decentralisation and Local Government | |
| In office 28 August 2018 – 29 May 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison |
| Minister | Michael McCormack |
| Preceded by | John McVeigh |
| Succeeded by | Mark Coulton |
| Minister for Sports | |
| In office 20 December 2017 – 29 May 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Greg Hunt |
| Succeeded by | Richard Colbeck |
| Minister for Rural Health Minister for Regional Communications | |
| In office 20 December 2017 – 28 August 2018 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull Scott Morrison |
| Preceded by | Fiona Nash |
| Succeeded by | (abolished) |
| Senator for Victoria | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Julian McGauran |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Bridget McKenzie 27 December 1969 Alexandra, Victoria, Australia |
| Political party | National Party |
| Alma mater | Deakin University |
McKenzie grew up in Benalla, Victoria, and worked as a schoolteacher and university lecturer before entering politics. She was elected to the Senate at the 2010 federal election and served as a whip from 2011 to 2013. McKenzie replaced Fiona Nash as deputy leader of the Nationals during the 2017 parliamentary eligibility crisis, and as a result was elevated to cabinet. She served variously as Minister for Rural Health (2017–2018), Sport (2017–2018), Regional Communications (2017–2018), Regional Services, Local Government and Decentralisation (2018–2019), and Agriculture (2019–2020). McKenzie resigned from cabinet and as deputy leader in 2020 as a result of a scandal surrounding the administration of community sporting grants. She was reappointed to cabinet in 2021 following a Nationals leadership spill as Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience and Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education.