CQ Today – Nationals turn the page

They say a week is a long time in politics. A couple of Sundays ago, I packed my bags for a Parliamentary sitting week. After a tumultuous few months in Canberra, I was hoping for a quiet, stock standard sitting week. Then on Tuesday afternoon, the Leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, sent a message that he was standing down as Nationals Leader. It was a bolt from the blue. In David’s words, he was “buggered”. Politics is a tough game, especially at the top. David showed lots of guts to stand up and admit that he could not go on. He leaves as Nationals Leader with many achievements, including defeating the divisive Voice to Parliament process (the Nationals were the first party to oppose under his leadership) and putting the removal of our absurd ban on nuclear power on the table. David’s resignation meant that someone had to step up to lead. I had run for Leader last year and, after calling my wife, I decided to do it again. It was an incredible honour to have been elected Leader of The Nationals the next day. The Nationals are the second oldest political party in Australia and I have huge shoes to fill. I could not have done this without the support I have received from Central Queensland over my 12 years in the Senate. I thank everyone in Central Queensland – even those that do not like me! The debates, the decisions and the defeats have helped forge my political identity. I am the first Leader of The Nationals from Central Queensland. While in this role I must represent all Australians, I have a special love for Central Queensland and know well how its development can benefit all of Australia. Over my career I have worked hard with our LNP team of Michelle Landry, Colin Boyce and Andrew Willcox to deliver results. We have got the Adani mine going (which employs 2000 people now), we built the Rookwood weir (the first farming dam in Queensland for a generation) and we saved the Rocky Ring Road from Labor’s budget cuts. Not to mention the Olympics rowing and canoeing in 2032! The Nationals party knows that the future of Australia lives in regional Australia. It is in regional Australia where we have opportunities to expand farming, mining and industry. Developing more Australian jobs that pay well is how we restore our living standards. We can protect the Australian way of life in regional Australia too. Our capital cities are bursting at the seams. People cannot afford a home, let alone one with a backyard, big enough to play a game of cricket in. Regional Australia can help. If we create more industry, opportunity and services in regional Australia, more people can move here. We can offer people the chance to own their own home. While not everyone will want to move, those who do will free up a house for others. The development of our regions will benefit all Australians. I have hope for the future of Australians. But most Australians are doing it tough today. Many people this past week would have been stressing about another rise in interest rates, an electricity bill arriving or even if they can fill up their car. It does not have to be this way. My mission is to bring back the lucky country, the carefree country. I want an Australia where families do not need to stress on a daily basis about the bills on the table, or how the kids will be able to buy their own house one day and have a good job that helps them get ahead in life. To be able to smile and sleep soundly at night, knowing the best is yet to come. We can restore a carefree Australia. We can give back a country where people can relax on a Sunday afternoon, in a home they own, while they watch their kids play.