The National and Liberal parties announced on Wednesday that they had struck a deal to combine, only a week after the Nationals said they were going to end the coalition agreement.
Mr Birrell was told by party leader David Littleproud on Tuesday night that he had been made the shadow assistant minister for education and regional health.
Although he had no say in the final distribution of porfolios, Mr Birrell said he was happy to serve with education and health.
The elevation puts him closer to the party leadership and in a more influential position in the party.
Speaking yesterday, Mr Birrell said he has spoken in parliament about the innovations in education and health in Nicholls and he would now be in a position to advocate for those advances to the nation.
Mr Birrell, a former agronomist, who studied applied science at Melbourne University’s Dookie campus, was elected to parliament in 2022.
He later completed his Masters in business administration, through La Trobe University.
Mr Birrell was re-elected at the recent election with 46 per cent of the vote in Nicholls electorate. The vote represented almost double the result of the nearest rival, the ALP candidate.
Opposition leader Sussan Ley unveiled a joint shadow cabinet and ministry alongside Mr Littleproud yesterday.
Liberal deputy leader Ted O’Brien becomes shadow treasurer while Mr Littleproud retains the agriculture portfolio.
Julian Leeser retakes his old role as shadow attorney-general after he resigned from shadow cabinet to campaign for the Indigenous voice referendum in 2023.
Jacinta Nampijinpa Price will become the opposition’s defence industry and personnel spokeswoman, demoted from the shadow cabinet to the outer shadow ministry.
Senator Nampijinpa Price sent shockwaves through the coalition when she defected from the Nationals to the Liberals after the election.
Former Nationals leaders Barnaby Joyce and Michael McCormack have been dumped from the shadow ministry, after casting doubt on Mr Littleproud’s position.
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