EASILY the biggest concern for Canberrans from PM Malcolm Turnbull’s reshuffle is the elevation of Nats leader Barnaby Joyce to Deputy Prime Minister.

Barnaby seems to have a grudge against the national capital and for years he’s been advocating the removal of government agencies to the provinces.

His decision last week to send part of the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation to Wagga Wagga is only the latest in his attempts to lower the sensible centrality of the capital. And he’s quite unrepentant.

“Decentralisation is not just an abstract idea, but it is a real priority for this government,” he said.

Happily the PM will always have the final say. And Turnbull’s enthusiastic occupation of the Lodge is a comfort. But Chief Minister Andrew Barr might consider a taskforce designed to convert Barnaby to the Canberra cause. For a bloke so open to flattery, that should be simple as pie.

THE reshuffle certainly provided Turnbull with the opportunity to take a new, fresh team to the election, now quite likely to occur shortly after the May Budget.

Indeed, the entire tax debate now seems to have been a precursor to an election Budget. And the big loser was undoubtedly Treasurer Scott Morrison whose preferred 50 per cent increase in the GST is now history.

OUR Aboriginal compatriots were suitably grateful for the PM’s promise to work with them in the quest to “close the gap”. Both he and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten gave nice speeches. But the Aboriginal leaders couldn’t disguise the fact that they’d heard it all before.

Truth is, there can be no major change until the outback colleagues can look forward to steady employment in meaningful jobs. Maybe that’s where Barnaby’s decentralisation policies should be directed.

ASTONISHING pay rises for the top public servants, who are now pocketing between $750,000 and $860,000 a year! The government says otherwise the best people would depart for private enterprise. Alas, when you take the “service” element out of the PS this is one of the consequences, like giving only the “advice” their ministers want to hear.

EVEN closer to home, ACT Planning Minister Mick Gentleman is off to North America to look at light rail and associated urban villages designed to “stimulate economic activity”. The trip will take the 11-man team to Tucson, Seattle and Vancouver. But surely that’s putting the trolley before the horse. It should have been done long before they committed to the scheme.

JERRABOMBERRA wetlands committee member Dr Mike Braysher clearly has a soft spot for imported foxes who, he says, “like living with people”.

Cute.

They can’t be poisoned because of risks to other animals and they shouldn’t be shot because “90 per cent of the fox population is waiting in reserve; take one out and there are many more young foxes to replace them”. Odd that. It certainly didn’t stop the “kangaroo cull” and there are millions of native boomers waiting to replace them, too.

ON a much happier note, what a thrill that in Environment Minister Greg Hunt we produced “the best minister in the world”. Makes you wonder who he beat for the crown. No names, no pack drill, but we hear Barnaby’s ropeable.

robert@robertmacklin.com