Politics with Michelle Grattan: Matt Canavan on why One Nation is ‘not really compatible’ as a Coalition partner
The Nationals leader said he’ll do ‘whatever it takes’ to beat the Labor government – including not ruling out a move to the lower house before the next election.
With less than two years remaining until the next federal election, Nationals leader Matt Canavan is aware his time in Parliament may be limited, as polling indicates his Senate seat in Queensland might be at risk. A close friend of former Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce, Canavan spoke about his thoughts on potential coalition partnerships with One Nation, AI copyright protections, and data centres during an interview.
Canavan explained that while he has noticed increased engagement from voters in his interactions, many still feel frustrated with "politics as usual." Although some might support One Nation if an election were held today, they remain interested in his and other politicians' policies. Despite the shift in voter preference towards One Nation, Canavan believes it is "not really compatible" to form a coalition with the party due to its unique governance structure and power dynamics under Pauline Hanson's leadership.
Regarding AI copyright protections, Canavan criticized OpenAI for allegedly blackmailing the federal government to weaken Australian copyright laws by threatening to withdraw investment in Australia. He stressed the importance of protecting Australian property rights and maintaining a reasonable negotiation process with AI companies. Canavan argued that both parties should respect the value of intellectual property, as it is fundamental to the IT industry.
Canavan expressed uncertainty about his future in Parliament, stating he will consider moving to the lower house if seats become available, but he also emphasized his respect for current incumbents. He does not plan to challenge any sitting Nationals members and wishes for them to run for re-election. The data centre industry is relatively new and faces concerns regarding energy prices and water usage, but Canavan believes that addressing these issues while securing local support will be crucial for any development project.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
