Overview
- In his first major speech as Nationals leader, delivered at the National Press Club on Wednesday, Matt Canavan launched a Patriot Agenda that he is pitching to regional voters ahead of the Farrer by-election.
- He vowed to end Australia's net zero emissions target and to open the door to all energy options, including nuclear, to lower bills for industry.
- The agenda promotes permanent tariffs to shield manufacturers such as steelmakers, replacing the slow, case-by-case anti-dumping system.
- He proposed tighter migration rules plus tax and work-from-home incentives to raise the birthrate and ease pressure on housing and services.
- A national works program would build dams, rail, ports and spaceports and seed new cities, though he did not detail how to fund it.