Barnaby Joyce took over Mr McCormack's role as Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Regional Development last week after winning a partyroom vote to become Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr Joyce did not allocate Mr McCormack another ministerial role during the reshuffle on Sunday.

"First and foremost, it has been a deeply humbling privilege to have served the constituents of the Riverina electorate for nearly 11 years," Mr McCormack said.

"The Riverina and indeed regional Australia has benefited greatly during my more than three years as the Deputy PM and [a cabinet] minister."

Prime Minister Scott Morrison thanked Mr McCormack "for his selfless and dedicated service to Australia, his tireless efforts as [a minister] and his faithful commitment to a strong Coalition government".

In other news

Mr McCormack said the highlights from his time as minister included more than doubling the portfolio's budget to $110 billion and supporting 110,000 jobs, increasing water infrastructure spending, and seeing tens of millions of dollars spent in Riverina councils.

"There are many more achievements I have been proud of, but to name a few: I worked tirelessly with state transport ministers, regardless of their political stripes, to keep freight supply chains moving at the height of the COVID crisis last year because my focus has always been on outcomes," he said.

"We provided appropriate and measured support for the aviation sector which was hit first and hit hardest by the pandemic."