Matthew Canavan, a Queensland senator and former minister in the Turnbull and Morrison governments, is set to challenge David Littleproud for the leadership of the Nationals party. This move highlights the growing fractures within the Coalition, as Canavan positions himself as a voice for disaffected regional Australians. His leadership bid comes at a time when many in the party are questioning its direction, particularly regarding its stance on climate action and regional policies.
Canavan, as Axios reported, is well-known for his ferocious opposition to climate action. He makes the libertarian case against current climate policies that increase living costs without delivering tangible environmental improvements. He got himself elected to drive a wedge into the Nationals’ fixation on holding back Australia from adopting net-zero emissions by 2050. He derides the aim as “pointless and unattainable.” He advocates for policies that encourage people to settle in reasonably sized regions and overcome a low birth rate. Plus he wants to “protect” families, with income splitting and bigger family tax benefits.
In an announcement regarding his leadership ambitions, Canavan stated, “On Monday, I plan to stand for the leadership of the Nationals party to bring back our fighting spirit.” He reminded them that the fight was about more than his own job. It’s single-mindedly focused on defending and advocating for the jobs, livelihoods, hopes and dreams of the constituents. “This is about fighting for the jobs and livelihoods of the many people we represent,” he added. “Many of the people that vote for the Nationals party have to shower after work, not before it.”
Canavan’s challenge to Littleproud comes against a backdrop of rising internal tension within the Coalition. His brother, John Canavan, operates as a mining executive and the managing director of Winfield Energy. The company owned most of the Rolleston coal mine until 2020. In 2019, Matthew Canavan disclosed in the Senate that his brother had acquired over a seven percent stake in the mine and its associated assets. This family relationship with the mining sector deepens his promise to continue pushing for policies that benefit resource-extraction industries.
The alternative leadership of David Littleproud has drawn a mixed reaction. Canavan acknowledged Littleproud’s contributions, remarking that he “can be enormously proud of his role in defeating the Voice, putting nuclear power on the agenda and having divestiture powers adopted as Coalition policy.” While he applauded the progress made, he underscored the importance of a re-focused effort on local priorities and fiscal responsibility.
Bridget McKenzie, a prominent figure in the Nationals party, shared her apprehensions regarding recent developments. She’d written in alarm about the Liberal Party’s candidate recruitment may have led to the selection of Senator Nampijinpa Price right before the election a few days ago. “Those of us in the National Party aren’t just Liberals who live in the country. We have a separate political philosophy and a long tradition,” she stated.
Canavan is allegedly preparing for his own leadership challenge. He doesn’t think that current energy policies are doing enough to prioritize power bills over emissions. “The primary goal of our electricity system should be to reduce power bills, not reduce emissions,” he asserted.
The new leadership contest now looms large, and will undoubtedly impact the future direction of the Nationals party. It will serve to show the larger tensions roiling the Coalition. Canavan is vehemently anti-climate, heavily focusing on regional issues. This approach is the one that connects with voters who are sick and tired of being ignored with these big political scripts.
