Willcox backs Canavan to lead hyper Australia launch
FEDERAL Member for Dawson, Andrew Willcox MP, has welcomed the election of Senator the Hon Matt Canavan as Leader of The Nationals, asserting that the new leadership team will deliver the straight talk and fiscal discipline Australians are crying out for.
Mr Willcox said he is pleased to see a fellow Queenslander at the helm who shares his passion for regional Australia.
"Matt Canavan is a man of conviction and a proud Queenslander who understands that our country is at a crossroads. We have a fantastic working relationship; I know he will fight to ensure that regional industries, from our miners to our farmers, are never again treated as an afterthought by the city-centric Labor Government."
The change in leadership signals a shift toward a 'More Australia' policy: an unapologetic focus on Australian jobs, Australian resources, and Australian families. Mr Willcox noted that this is not new thinking for The Nationals, but rather a return to the conservative roots that the party has always championed.
"For too long, the 'all or nothing' approach to renewables has been bankrupting this nation and driving up the cost of living. We want practical environmental protection: an energy grid that uses the best models in the world by blending a solid base load of power with renewables. To drive down inflation, we must have real fiscal responsibility and reliable, affordable energy; not a reckless rush that leaves our manufacturers and families in the dark."
Mr Willcox, who remains the Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Sovereign Capability, said the 'More Australia' approach is vital for the survival of local industry.
"If we want a future made in Australia, we have to reduce the crippling energy costs that are killing our factories. We also need to get serious about sovereign capability by stopping the dumping of cheap, finished steel products from overseas. Our manufacturing sector needs to be restored and revived; as Matt Canavan says, it is time to go 'hyper Australia' and bring back Aussie-made goods."
Beyond the halls of Parliament, Mr Willcox emphasised that the role of a Federal Member is about looking after the vulnerable on the ground.
"National policy is only one part of the job. My priority remains helping the people of Dawson navigate the complex systems of the NDIS, the ATO, Aged Care, Centrelink, and more. When people vote, they are looking for a representative who has their back when they are struggling with the bureaucracy.
“Only a Coalition government has the structure and the heart to hold Labor to account while providing that high level of direct assistance to the business owners, the workers, the farmers and the families who are the bedrock of our nation."
Mr Willcox also paid tribute to the outgoing leader, David Littleproud MP, describing him as a mentor and a mate.
"David is proud by name and by nature. He has been a strong force in steering the Nationals and was a fierce voice within the Coalition; particularly in his campaign to abandon net zero and put the interests of the bush first. He has earned the right to return his focus to his family and his electorate of Maranoa, and I thank him for his years of dedicated service."
Mr Willcox congratulated the broader leadership team, including Deputy Leader, the Hon Darren Chester MP and Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie, who continues her vital role as Leader of The Nationals in the Senate.
"This is a team of patriots who will listen to the people we represent, whether it is fashionable in the city or not. We are here to defend what we believe in and to put Australians first."
ENDS
Caption: L-R: Member for Dawson Andrew Willcox MP, Nationals Leader Senator the Hon Matt Canavan, and Deputy Leader the Hon Darren Chester MP; the team focused on delivering a hyper Australia that prioritises regional families, restores sovereign manufacturing, and brings back reliable, affordable energy.
Contact: Amanda Wright | Media & Communications Adviser
P | 07 4944 0662 M | 0455 456 705 E | Amanda.Wright@aph.gov.au