Subjects: New National Party leadership
E&OE
STARTS: 1:05pm
Amy O’HALLORAN
So just your name and title for me.
Michael McCORMACK
Michael McCormack, Federal Member for the Riverina.
Amy O’HALLORAN
So, everything happened yesterday. Tell me, did you put your name in the ring?
Michael McCORMACK
No, I didn’t. I’m really pleased, though, that Matthew Canavan and Darren Chester are now the Leader and the Deputy Leader of the Nationals. This is a reset, a refresh for our party. But as always, we will be concentrating on regional Australians. Our focus has always been on regional Australians. It’s not about ourselves. So whilst this is a reset for the Party’s leadership, the focus continues on the food security, the fuel security, the energy security of regional Australians. The cost-of-living crisis is biting hard. Matt Canavan understands that. We all do. He will be a strong voice in making sure that regional Australians continue to be heard as far as the Nationals are concerned, here in Canberra.
Amy O’HALLORAN
Why didn’t you put your name in the ring?
Michael McCORMACK
Oh, look, I’m actually pleased that Matt Canavan has put his hand up. Look, unconventional times require unconventional measures. The National Party has been a party of government. Indeed. We’ve been going for more than a century. It’s the first time that we’ve had a senator as a leader. Obviously, the political landscape has changed, and we’ve changed accordingly. We’ve changed with it. And quite frankly, if you go out on the streets, they’re not going to be worried too much whether an Upper House or Lower House member of the Federal Parliament is leading the Nationals. They’re concerned about their cost of living. They’re concerned about whether they can fuel up their car. They are concerned about whether they can fill up the grocery trolley. And at the moment, they’re paying through the nose for everything. And we want to make sure that we can have affordable power. We want to make sure the cost-of-living issues are being addressed, and that’s what we’ll continue to do. Obviously, Farrah is going to be a focus over the next few weeks leading up to May 9th. We’ve got an outstanding candidate out there, former Army Colonel Brad Robertson, who was integral in the Cancer Care Trust in Albury-Wodonga. He he’s going to be making sure that he’s out there, listening to people. We will be out on the ground helping and supporting him. We offer a real credible alternative to what is a very bad government.
Amy O’HALLORAN
Was David Littleproud’s announcement a shock to you yesterday?
Michael McCORMACK
It took me completely by surprise. They took us all completely by surprise, quite frankly. But look, I wish David well. I wish him and Amelia all the very best in the future.
Amy O’HALLORAN
Is there anything else that you want to add?
Michael McCORMACK
That’ll do. Thank you.
ENDS