From 27 November 2010, Cripps was the Shadow Minister for North Queensland, Reef Protection and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Economic Development and the Shadow Minister for Public Works. Following a reshuffle, he was appointed Shadow Minister for Agriculture and North Queensland. Cripps had previously been the Shadow Minister for Disability Services and Multicultural Affairs (6 April 2009 – 26 November 2010), Shadow Minister for Natural Resources and Water (30 September 2008 – 5 April 2009), Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Planning (29 January 2008 – 12 August 2008) and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Mines and Energy (21 September 2006 – 29 January 2008).
