Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester has been dumped from his portfolio, which will be taken over by Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce.
Chester had been in the portfolio for less than two years.
"It has been an enormous honour and a privilege to serve in Cabinet in the best portfolio possible, infrastructure and transport," Chester said after news of his sacking broke.
"Over the past two years, I’ve been part of policy and project decisions which will change lives and save lives across our nation.
"I’m proud of the work my team and I have done on behalf of the Government and I’m sorry we won’t get to finish some of the jobs we’ve started.
"Naturally, I’m disappointed by The Leader of The Nationals’ decision to exclude me from his Cabinet team. Politics can be a tough business for all involved.
"But life goes on and I will continue to support the Turnbull Government. We need to work together as a strong and united team and I will continue to demonstrate the loyalty and professionalism that is required for us to deliver the government that Australians deserve."
During his time as Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Chester had significant impact on aviation, including:
- Fronting up to the general aviation community in Tamworth in May 2016
- Appointing Shane Carmody as new CASA CEO
- Ordering the BITRE General Aviation Study
- Publishing an airspace protection discussion paper
- Setting up the General Aviation Advisory Group (GAAG)
He also drew significant criticism for failing to provide funding needed to guarantee the future of regional airports and for failing to make sweeping changes to CASA and the ATSB.
One of Chester's ongoing mantras was the need for general aviation to present a genuine united front to Canberra to give the department more power to make effective change, a position he first voiced at Tamworth in May 2016 and reiterated at the Regional Aviation Association convention last October.