Leader of the Nationals Matt Canavan, Deputy Leader Darren Chester and Nationals Senate Leader Bridget McKenzie speak to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, on March 11, 2026. AAP Image/Lukas Coch
National Party leader Matthew Canavan will step down from the Senate to run for the seat of Capricornia in a move that would see him transition to the lower house if successful.
The electorate of Capricornia spans the regional Queensland city of Rockhampton, up to the outer suburbs of Mackay.
Incumbent Nationals MP Landry announced on Oct. 23 that she would not contest the seat in the 2028 federal election.
“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,” Canavan said in a statement.
“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.”
Canavan said he wanted to “rediscover” the Australian pioneering spirit in developing the regions.
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“The biggest handbrake on Central Queensland, and Australia, right now is net zero,” he said.
Canavan said net zero had increased the price of power, had sent jobs overseas and was destroying the natural environment it was supposed to protect though massive wind and solar projects.
“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,” he said.
“I may politically die in this endeavour, but I am not going to die wondering.”
Canavan will remain in the Senate until the federal election.
Other potential candidates for the seat of Capricornia remain unclear so far, with One Nation’s James Ashby ruling himself out of the race despite earlier speculation of a tilt at the electorate.
In the past, the seat has largely been represented by Labor or the Nationals, with George Pearce being the only Liberal MP to have held it from 1949-61.
Canavan’s term as a senator will be up for election in 2028, alongside fellow Liberal National Party (LNP) Senator James McGrath.
However, Canavan currently sits behind McGrath on the LNP’s Queensland ticket, meaning he faces a potential challenge from One Nation.
In the 2025 federal election, Queenslanders elected two Liberal National Party (LNP) senators—Paul Scarr and Susan McDonald—and one One Nation member, Malcolm Roberts.
Labor won two Senate position, and the Greens one.
A DemosAU/Premier National poll conducted in October found the LNP leading Labor 57–43 on a two-party-preferred basis in Queensland.
On primary votes, the LNP recorded 34 percent, Labor 25 percent and One Nation 23 percent, with the latter recording a two-percentage-point increase from the previous poll.
