Matt Canavan Elected New Nationals Leader, Vows ‘Hyper-Australia’ Agenda
News Desk/Posted 11 March,2026
CANBERRA – In a move that signals a sharp conservative shift for the National Party, Queensland Senator Matt Canavan has been elected federal leader following the shock resignation of David Littleproud.
The leadership ballot, held on Wednesday morning, saw Senator Canavan defeat fellow contenders Bridget McKenzieand Kevin Hogan in a three-cornered contest. He becomes the first person to lead the party from the Senate. Victorian MP Darren Chester has been elected as the new Deputy Leader.
A ‘Hyper-Australia’ Vision
In his first press conference as leader, Senator Canavan delivered a nationalistic pitch, warning that Australians are “losing their country” under the current Labor government. He called for a focus on “manifesting a hyper-Australia” to combat rising cost-of-living pressures.
“We need to have more Australian farming, more Australian manufacturing, more Australian jobs,” Canavan told reporters. “We need more Australian babies. We need more Australian humour, more Australian jokes, more Australian barbecues—sometimes often fuelled by fossil fuels. We need more Australian everything.”
Political Implications
The leadership change comes at a turbulent time for the Coalition. Mr. Littleproud’s resignation followed a period marked by two major splits within the Liberal-National alliance over the past nine months. Canavan, a vocal critic of net-zero targets and a staunch supporter of the coal industry, is expected to take a more combative stance against both the government and the rising threat of One Nation, which has been surging in regional polls.
Challenges Ahead
The new leadership team faces an immediate “baptism by fire” with the Farrer by-election scheduled for May 9. The contest, sparked by the retirement of former Liberal leader Sussan Ley, will be the first major test of whether Canavan’s populist rhetoric can shore up the Nationals’ base and fend off minor party challengers.
Liberal Leader Angus Taylor congratulated the new team, stating that Canavan and Chester “understand the pressures facing families, farmers, and small businesses.”
