One Nation heavyweights give Matt Canavan clear run to lower house
Neither Pauline Hanson nor James Ashby said they had plans to contest the seat of Capricornia.
Pauline Hanson and James Ashby, key figures in One Nation, have ruled out contesting the upcoming election for the Capricornia seat, traditionally held by Nationals leader Matt Canavan. This development significantly increases the likelihood of Canavan's smooth transition from the Senate to the lower house. Canavan confirmed his intention to run for the seat on Monday, following Michelle Landry's announcement that she will retire from her seat.
Canavan emphasized his commitment to replace the current government, acknowledging the risks involved but emphasizing his dedication to his political career. In response to this news, Hanson and Ashby expressed their lack of interest in running for the seat, with Hanson stating emphatically that she wouldn't contest Capricornia.
While Ashby maintained that One Nation will field a candidate and will provide resources for the campaign, he also stressed the importance of his national director role. The high probability of Canavan's victory in Capricornia is attributed to the absence of strong opposition from Hanson and Ashby, which would have otherwise burdened the Nationals leader with campaigning efforts.
Although Canavan must campaign against One Nation's eventual candidate, the situation appears favorable for him. However, Hanson's potential future involvement in lower house races remains uncertain, as her decision could impact her ability to campaign nationwide. Michelle Grattan, who remains neutral in this matter, notes that her academic appointment does not influence her reporting on this story.
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.
