{"id":518832,"date":"2026-04-08T03:44:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T03:44:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/518832\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T03:44:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T03:44:11","slug":"matt-canavans-australia-on-steroids-economic-plan-looks-to-the-stars-manufacturing-and-a-baby-boom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/518832\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Canavan&#8217;s &#8216;Australia on steroids&#8217; economic plan looks to the stars, manufacturing and a baby boom"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">A domestic space industry, a baby boom, new dams and more factories are on Nationals leader Matt Canavan&#8217;s to-do list to deliver what he describes as an Australian economic revolution.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The vision for &#8220;an Australia on steroids&#8221; will be set out by Senator Canavan during his first major address <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-03-11\/matt-canavan-nationals-leader-fossil-fuel-future\/106440190\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106440190\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">since winning the Nationals leadership last month<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Speaking at the National Press Club, Senator Canavan will lay out a five-point plan to revive the economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;I am proposing an Australian economic revolution, not a replay or a reset,&#8221; Senator Canavan will tell the press club, according to a draft speech seen by the ABC.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">He has dubbed the plan a Patriot Agenda for an Australian Economic Revival.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;We won&#8217;t get revival by tinkering around the edges. Some of this will require the long-overdue slaying of sacred cows.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-03-08\/the-battle-for-coalition-heartland-farrer\/106409686\" data-component=\"FullBleedLink\" class=\"RelatedCard_link__rsgR9 FullBleedLink_root__lTw_U interactive_focusContext__yRhc_ interactive_defaults__AKxUU FullBleedLink_showVisited__g3Xvz\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">The fight for 126,000 square kilometres of Coalition heartland<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP RelatedCard_synopsis__cFwMW Typography_sizeMobile14__u7TGe Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">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&#8217;ll also be a measure of major party politics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Current border settings have not been working, leaving the door open to tariffs to protect Australian industries, he will say.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Senator Canavan will argue for a national works program to build infrastructure projects like dams and roads, as well as both seaports and spaceports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;Our continent is uniquely placed for rocket launches,&#8221; he will say, pointing to the Australian Space Agency, previously established by the Coalition.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Senator Canavan&#8217;s ambitious plan would require a significant shift in fortunes for the Coalition, which was significantly weakened following last year&#8217;s federal election.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Restoring manufacturing and fuel security<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Senator Canavan will identify the steel industry as a sector worth protecting, which he will say has fallen victim to overseas imports.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;Australia is the largest exporter of coking coal and iron ore in the world, the two main ingredients to make steel,&#8221; he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;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.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">Scrapping the net zero plan, he will say, is key to a successful manufacturing industry and <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-03-31\/fuel-purchasing-powers-could-be-used-for-anything-disrupted\/106511520\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106511520\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">domestic fuel security<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;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,&#8221; he will tell the press club.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;<a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2024-05-16\/what-is-the-government-future-made-in-australia-plan\/103852302\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/103852302\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">A real Made in Australia agenda <\/a>will only work when it is fuelled by all types of Australian energy,&#8221; he will say, in reference to the Albanese government&#8217;s multi-billion-dollar push to spur local manufacturing and renewables. \u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">In addition to calling for the borders to be closed to &#8220;mass migration&#8221;, he will argue for measures to boost the birthrate, including favourable tax settings for dual-income households and promoting working from home.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A workers inspects a recently manufactured rail track\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/9f998c697ae6facc6b5ddaea4ea7ed57.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The Nationals leader argues abandoning net zero is essential to supporting Australian manufacturing and industry. (ABC News: Lincoln Rothall)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The measures, he will say, would also help to increase populations in regions and smaller towns.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;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,&#8221; he will tell the press club.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;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,&#8221; he will say.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A focus on Farrer<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">While the Nationals leader&#8217;s grand vision involves turning his gaze towards the stars, his address also focuses closer to home and specifically towards <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-04-07\/farrer-candidate-funded-by-rupert-murdoch-son-in-law\/106535826\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106535826\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">next month&#8217;s Farrer by-election<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">In promoting the growth of regional centres, Senator Canavan argues for more services in those centres.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">He will point to Albury Wodonga Health as an example of where service delivery has failed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">The service has been beset by problems in recent years and <a class=\"Link_link__kR0xA Link_link__5eL5m ScreenReaderOnly_srLinkHint__OysWz Link_showVisited__C1Fea Link_showFocus__ALyv2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2026-03-12\/no-confidence-vote-by-albury-wodonga-doctors-staff-unrest\/106443804\" data-component=\"Link\" data-uri=\"coremedia:\/\/article\/106443804\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">its executive management was the subject of a no-confidence vote by doctors last month<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Sussan Ley talks to the press\" class=\"Image_image__5tFYM ContentImage_image__DQ_cq\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/3605f40a8a39f314cc4253ac089d85ca.jpeg\" loading=\"lazy\" data-component=\"Image\" data-lazy=\"true\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Typography_base__sj2RP FigureCaption_text__zDxQ5 Typography_sizeMobile12__w_FPC Typography_lineHeightMobile20___U7Vr Typography_regular__WeIG6 Typography_colourInherit__dfnUx\" data-component=\"Typography\">The Farrer by-election was triggered by Sussan Ley&#8217;s resignation. (ABC News: Ian Cutmore)<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">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.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph_paragraph___QITb\">&#8220;If we don&#8217;t start planning now for their refurbishment we will lose our nation&#8217;s food bowl,&#8221; he will say.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A domestic space industry, a baby boom, new dams and more factories are on Nationals leader Matt Canavan&#8217;s&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":518833,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[180783,180784,84,13873,1294,1391,180786,10420,180782,153724,180785,229,53499,91098,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-518832","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-economy","8":"tag-australian-population-growth","9":"tag-baby-boom","10":"tag-business","11":"tag-coalition","12":"tag-economy","13":"tag-federal-government","14":"tag-fuel-security","15":"tag-manufacturing","16":"tag-matt-canavan","17":"tag-national-press-club","18":"tag-nationals-party","19":"tag-politics","20":"tag-space-program","21":"tag-steel-industry","22":"tag-uk","23":"tag-united-kingdom","24":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=518832"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/518832\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/518833"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=518832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=518832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=518832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}