Nationals Leader Matt Canavan has announced he is putting it all on the line and will nominate to seek LNP endorsement as the candidate for Capricornia at the next federal election.
“This decision isn’t about me but the people of Capricornia,” Senator Canavan said.
“I will nominate to be the LNP candidate for Capricornia because I want to keep Central Queensland going.
“We have been going strong with Michelle Landry as the Federal Member and with so many opportunities ahead of us, we have to keep up her cracking pace.
“We have built the biggest dam in Queensland for decades, the biggest mine in Australia for a generation and we are currently building the biggest road project in regional Queensland at the Rocky Ring Road.
“I love Central Queensland. We have so many opportunities. This area will build the future our of country and so we need to stay focused on growing our nation here, because we have unparalleled levels of water, minerals, infrastructure and skills.
“As The Nationals Leader I want to rediscover our pioneering spirit as a people and that means developing our regions to take pressure off the larger cities.
“We just need leadership that seizes that opportunity and removes the handbrakes off our industry and growth.
“The biggest handbrake on Central Queensland, and Australia, right now is net zero. I make this announcement one year to the date since The Nationals party room decided to fight back against the net zero agenda.
“Net zero is pushing up the price of energy, net zero is shipping our jobs overseas and net zero is destroying the natural environment it is meant to protect, through the rollout of industrial sized wind and solar projects.
“To get rid of net zero, we need to change the government. I want to make sure the next election is a true referendum on net zero and to do that we must win a majority of seats in the House of Representatives.
“I am nominating to be a candidate in the House of Reps to help change this country, unleash our nation’s potential and bring down the cost of living for all Australian families.
“As Leader of The Nationals, I have a duty to be on the frontline with my team, to get rid of this terrible government. I realise there is no such thing as a safe seat anymore. I may politically die in this endeavour, but I am not going to die wondering.
“I am committed to changing this government and seeing Angus Taylor elected as the next Prime Minister of Australia.
“I will stay in the Senate until the next election and continue to work for all Queenslanders. I will continue to work alongside Michelle Landry, Colin Boyce and others to deliver for Central Queensland as well.
“It would be an honour to represent the great Capricornia region in the Parliament. My wife and I have loved every minute in this beautiful region after we moved here 12 years ago. We had our first daughter here, two of our sons have graduated from High School in Rockhampton and our youngest son just got man of the match in the Companion Rugby League Cup, helping St Benedict’s beat Sacred Heart for the first time in history.
“We are so proud of our family and the place that we have made our home.
“The LNP is a proud grassroots party and I am putting myself forward to the local members, for their endorsement. The beauty of our Party is that it will be up to the LNP membership to decide who their Capricornia candidate is.
“Regardless of what happens, I will always fight for Central Queensland.”
