Subjects: New National Party leadership
E&OE
Joanne GRIFFITHS
Welcome back.
Michael McCORMACK
Michael McCormack. Federal Member for the Riverina.
Joanne GRIFFITHS
What was your reaction to the new leader?
Michael McCORMACK
I think he will bring a reset and a refresh. Matt Canavan has plenty of enthusiasm and ideas and policies. And he’s spoken about it for a long time now. He’s going to put these words into action. He has been somebody who has been strident in his enthusiasm and work for regional Australians. Now he gets the opportunity to lead a great party, a party which has been representing regional Australians for more than 100 years. Australia’s second oldest political party. And yes, it’s unconventional. But we are in unconventional times, and I think Matt Canavan is the person for the times.
Joanne GRIFFITHS
Did you put your hand up for this?
Michael McCORMACK
No I didn’t. Look, I’ve led the party before. I didn’t think now was the right time. I think what we need is somebody like Matt Canavan, and like Darren Chester to be honest, to take our party forward. I’ve got every confidence they’re going to do a great job together. They’re in different houses. They’re different people. But they’re very much one and the same in fighting for regional Australians.
Joanne GRIFFITHS
What is this latest shakeup going to mean for regional Australia? And what kind of results are we expecting to see that’s different from what we’ve seen from David Littleproud?
Michael McCORMACK
It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be an interesting ride. You will see Matt Canavan, cover the length and breadth of Australia and not just necessarily National Party seats. Matt Canavan is very, very well known to many, many Australians. He’s got hundreds of thousands of people who follow him on his various social media platforms. Whilst they might not always agree with him, they appreciate and admire his courage. And that’s what I’ve always done too.
Joanne GRIFFITHS
David Littleproud’s resignation has been described as a shock resignation. Were you shocked?
Michael McCORMACK
I was absolutely shocked. I didn’t see it coming. He had the support of the room. But look, that’s politics. It is always an interesting caper. But I think now what we’ve really got to stop focusing inward. And I know I’ve been doing that. I know Matt Canavan has and Darren Chester has too: looking at the needs of regional Australians and Australians, per se. They are hurting at the moment, and we’ve got to stop talking about ourselves, stop focusing on the struggles and the battles and the power in Canberra and concentrate on power bills, because that’s going to be most important. The cost of living, the petrol prices, the petrol security, the food security, migration, these are all major issues that Australians are talking about, and we need to be focusing on.
Joanne GRIFFITHS
Thanks very much.
Michael McCORMACK
Thank you so much.
ENDS