Nationals leader Matt Canavan eyes move to lower house as pollster warns of One Nation wipeout
News Source
β’Fri, 23 Oct 2026 03:59:41 GMT
π° What Happened
Nationals leader Matt Canavan has refused to rule out moving from the Senate to the lower house. The talk began after veteran MP Michelle Landry said she will not contest her Queensland seat of Capricornia at the next election.
Canavan said this month he would do whatever it takes to hold the seat for the Coalition. Pollster Kos Samaras says Canavan has a zero per cent chance of keeping his Senate spot in 2028 if One Nation keeps rising. He says a lower house run is a better bet, though still hard.
π The Backstory
One Nation is polling strongly. Last month's Guardian Essential poll put it at 25% nationally, with Labor on 29% and the Coalition on a record-low 22%. Redbridge analysis in May suggested One Nation could win up to 59 seats, mostly taken from the Liberals and Nationals.
Landry took a parting shot at One Nation, calling its cartoon videos obnoxious and saying its people should pull their heads in. She denied she was pushed out to make room for Canavan.
π― Why It Matters
A big swing to One Nation would reshape who represents regional Queensland, and who leads the Nationals.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan has refused to rule out moving from the Senate to the lower house. The talk began after veteran MP Michelle Landry said she will not contest her Queensland seat of Capricornia at the next election.
Canavan said this month he would do whatever it takes to hold the seat for the Coalition. Pollster Kos Samaras says Canavan has a zero per cent chance of keeping his Senate spot in 2028 if One Nation keeps rising. He says a lower house run is a better bet, though still hard.
One Nation is polling strongly. Last month's Guardian Essential poll put it at 25% nationally, with Labor on 29% and the Coalition on a record-low 22%. Redbridge analysis in May suggested One Nation could win up to 59 seats, mostly taken from the Liberals and Nationals.
Landry took a parting shot at One Nation, calling its cartoon videos obnoxious and saying its people should pull their heads in. She denied she was pushed out to make room for Canavan.
A big swing to One Nation would reshape who represents regional Queensland, and who leads the Nationals.