Canavan to drive economic revolution with tariffs and infrastructure boom
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The news: New Nationals Leader Matt Canavan will on Wednesday use a major speech to propose “an economic revolution”, including more tariffs to protect Australian industries, slashing immigration and building new cities with affordable housing.
The context: Canavan, who replaced David Littleproud as party leader last month, will address Canberra’s National Press Club to offer the first real glimpse into his political thinking and his plan to challenge One Nation, which polling shows leads the Coalition and is closing in on the Albanese Labor Government.
In an advance copy of the speech provided to media including Capital Brief, Canavan says current leaders are stuck on the “old economic rationalist highway” and corporate Australia has become cowardly and insipid.
He will propose what he describes as a Patriot Agenda for Australian Economic Revival, including scrapping net zero, investing in all forms of energy to reduce power prices for families, a manufacturing renaissance driven in part by the use of tariffs, and an end to mass migration to ensure intake is calibrated to existing infrastructure, housing and services.
Referring to US President Donald Trump’s preference for the use of tariffs, Canavan will say a tariff is simply a tool already used in anti-dumping actions.
He will also discuss the plight of a Mackay engineering steel fabrication plant that makes roof bolts for underground mines. While these bolts have always been made using Australian steel, the family business is now being undercut by Chinese competitors.
Canavan will argue for a new baby boom and the slaying of sacred cows, including the view that open borders are always a good thing.
The Nationals leader will further argue that the current global energy crisis should be the final nail in the coffin in net zero carbon policies, saying it has shown that it is not possible to grow food, transport goods or make basic industrial products without oil.
Canavan’s speech will be closely watched, given his party’s recent loss of support to One Nation.
Observers and political opponents will be keen to see whether the 45-year-old will steer his party further to the right to take on the rampaging One Nation, or whether he can identify a middle ground that works for the Nationals without frightening off potential supporters of their Liberal Party coalition partners.
What he will say: “No wonder we’re seeing a surge in support for minor parties and alternatives. The Australian people rightly want a shake-up in our politics. Business as usual is not working economically, and it will fail politically too,” Canavan will say.
“I am proposing an Australian economic revolution, not a replay or a reset. We won’t get revival by tinkering around the edges.”
The source: Matt Canavan speech
