Next week, Australian politics will witness three significant leadership contests, marked notably by Senator Matt Canavan’s announcement to contest the leadership of the Nationals against David Littleproud. Canavan, known for his strong advocacy of coal power and criticism of net zero emissions policies, stated his intentions in an article for The Australian.
He acknowledged Littleproud’s accomplishments, including leading efforts to defeat the Voice referendum, bringing nuclear energy discussions into the spotlight, and achieving the adoption of divestiture powers as Coalition policy. However, Canavan emphasised that his challenge is not about personal job security but rather about advocating for the interests of the constituents they represent.
Canavan expressed a vision focused on reshaping the party’s future, stating, “Our plan should be based on how we can save the country, not save the party.” He also highlighted his motivation for pursuing leadership, aiming to ensure a better future for his children by confronting the party’s direction decisively.
He underscored the need for a new strategy, suggesting that the previous election’s approach was unsuccessful and necessitated a reevaluation of their commitments to net zero emissions. Canavan believes that he is well-positioned to drive the necessary changes within the party and intends to articulate this vision clearly as he moves forward with his leadership challenge, which he plans to formally announce on Monday.