Nationals leader Canavan to run for lower house seat Capricornia
Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 03:44 · Archive
Nationals leader Matt Canavan has announced he will seek preselection for the lower house seat of Capricornia in Queensland, which will be vacated by retiring Nationals chief whip Michelle Landry at the next federal election, due in 2028. Canavan currently sits in the Senate. One Nation's party director James Ashby had been considering running for the seat but has now ruled out a tilt at the lower house position. Senator Pauline Hanson also said she would not run in Capricornia.
Canavan acknowledged the political risk of switching from the Senate to the lower house. He said he needed to 'step up' and was willing to take a risk during a 'volatile' political climate. 'It falls to me,' he said, adding he 'desperately wanted' a change of government. 'I'm happy to sacrifice potentially my own political future to do that,' he said. 'I want to be on the front lines with my troops as well. I'm the leader of the Nationals.'
Canavan lives in Capricornia, making it the natural seat for him to stand in. However, the seat appears highly vulnerable to One Nation. One Nation polled 15.5 per cent of the primary vote in Capricornia in 2025, more than double its national result. With One Nation support now roughly quadruple that result nationally, its support in Capricornia is expected to be well above 30 per cent, potentially higher than 40 per cent, making the seat a likely One Nation gain if an election were held today.
How it is being reported
- Canavan to fight One Nation in Lower House seat, but it won’t be Hanson’s ‘right-hand man’Nationals leader Matt Canavan has done what everyone knew he would do, confirming he will make a tilt for a seat in the Lower House of Federal Parliament. A successful switch from the Senate, where he now sits, to the House of Representatives would put him in a prime position to be deputy prime minister […]Region Canberra · 2 Nov, 03:18
- Canavan's seat switch might backfire, but does he have a better option?Matt Canavan is seeking pre-selection to run for the lower house seat of Capricornia at the next election, potentially setting up a high-profile showdown with One Nation.ABC Australian Capital Territory · 2 Nov, 03:16
- Matt Canavan enters Capricornia race to set up One Nation showdownThe Nationals leader has officially thrown his hat in the ring for the lower house seat of Capricornia, setting up a potential contest with One Nation's party director James Ashby.ABC Australian Capital Territory · 1 Nov, 22:43
In this story: Matt Canavan · Michelle Landry · James Ashby · Pauline Hanson · One Nation · The Nationals · Capricornia · Queensland
This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log
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