Labor blasts Barnaby Joyce for appointing Tamworth mayor and ‘solid supporter’ for infrastructure role

Nationals leader accused opposition of being academic snobs' who lacked commitment to regional Australia

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Labor has blasted Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce for being set to appoint the retiring mayor of Tamworth, Col Murray, as the new chair of Infrastructure Australia.

Asked on Tuesday by the shadow infrastructure Catherine King whether he could confirm that the Morrison government had decided, but not yet announced, that Murray, who has described himself as a fairly solid Barnaby supporter" would be the new chair of the infrastructure advisory body, Joyce rounded on the opposition.

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