A domestic space industry, a baby boom, new dams and more factories are on Nationals leader Matt Canavan’s to-do list to deliver what he describes as an Australian economic revolution. 

The vision for “an Australia on steroids” will be set out by Senator Canavan during his first major address since winning the Nationals leadership last month. 

Speaking at the National Press Club, Senator Canavan will lay out a five-point plan to revive the economy. 

“I am proposing an Australian economic revolution, not a replay or a reset,” Senator Canavan will tell the press club, according to a draft speech seen by the ABC.

He has dubbed the plan a Patriot Agenda for an Australian Economic Revival.

“We won’t get revival by tinkering around the edges. Some of this will require the long-overdue slaying of sacred cows.

“The first sacred cow that must go is our naive belief that open borders for goods and people are always and everywhere a good thing.”

The fight for 126,000 square kilometres of Coalition heartland

The upcoming Farrer by-election is already being talked about as a litmus test for the new opposition leader and an ascendant One Nation. It’ll also be a measure of major party politics.

Current border settings have not been working, leaving the door open to tariffs to protect Australian industries, he will say.

Senator Canavan will argue for a national works program to build infrastructure projects like dams and roads, as well as both seaports and spaceports.

“Our continent is uniquely placed for rocket launches,” he will say, pointing to the Australian Space Agency, previously established by the Coalition. 

Not only could a renewed space age help secure Australia communications, defence and national security interests, it could also boost regional populations, according to the Nationals leader. 

Senator Canavan’s ambitious plan would require a significant shift in fortunes for the Coalition, which was significantly weakened following last year’s federal election. 

Restoring manufacturing and fuel security

Senator Canavan will identify the steel industry as a sector worth protecting, which he will say has fallen victim to overseas imports.

“Australia is the largest exporter of coking coal and iron ore in the world, the two main ingredients to make steel,” he said. 

“We should not need to import foreign steel but, just like on fuel, we have become reliant on other countries for a basic material because we have not acted in response to their protective barriers.”

Scrapping the net zero plan, he will say, is key to a successful manufacturing industry and domestic fuel security. 

“To restore sovereign capability and unleash energy abundance, we must end net zero, scrap all carbon taxes and end all bans on energy production in Australia,” he will tell the press club. 

“A real Made in Australia agenda will only work when it is fuelled by all types of Australian energy,” he will say, in reference to the Albanese government’s multi-billion-dollar push to spur local manufacturing and renewables.  

In addition to calling for the borders to be closed to “mass migration”, he will argue for measures to boost the birthrate, including favourable tax settings for dual-income households and promoting working from home. 

A workers inspects a recently manufactured rail track

The Nationals leader argues abandoning net zero is essential to supporting Australian manufacturing and industry. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)

The measures, he will say, would also help to increase populations in regions and smaller towns. 

“In the past the opening of a new mine or factory could convince the whole family to move but today, unless the other partner has a job in their career, the family will likely stay and fly in and out instead,” he will tell the press club. 

Promoting working from home in professional jobs and in the public services would help to make regional relocations a possibility for families, according to his speech. 

“The public service should lead by example, and we should look at tax incentives or infrastructure concessions to encourage it in the private sector too,” he will say. 

A focus on Farrer

While the Nationals leader’s grand vision involves turning his gaze towards the stars, his address also focuses closer to home and specifically towards next month’s Farrer by-election.

In promoting the growth of regional centres, Senator Canavan argues for more services in those centres.

He will point to Albury Wodonga Health as an example of where service delivery has failed. 

The service has been beset by problems in recent years and its executive management was the subject of a no-confidence vote by doctors last month. 

Senator Canavan will argue a plan to grow and develop regional Australia would help to relieve the strain on services in big cities and boost those in country areas. 

Sussan Ley talks to the press

The Farrer by-election was triggered by Sussan Ley’s resignation. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)

Albury Wodonga Health is shaping up to be a major election issue leading in to the May by-election, along with concern about the Murray Darling and water security for growers. 

The Coalition has already announced a commission of inquiry into the Murray Darling, and Senator Canavan will argue dam building and refurbishment are required to protect the foodbowl. 

“If we don’t start planning now for their refurbishment we will lose our nation’s food bowl,” he will say.