Have Your Say

TRANSCRIPT: ABC CANBERRA INTERVIEW WITH ROSS SOLLY

12 March 2026

Subjects: Matt Canavan leadership, fuel prices

E&OE 

Ross SOLLY

The new leader of the National Party says he wants more larrikins, more Australian humour and more Aussie jokes. You’re a bit of a larrikin sometimes, Michael McCormack. You could be the leader of this larrikin-led challenge.

 

Michael McCORMACK

Look, Matt made a very good speech. He addressed many issues. More than just, larrikinism. He also talked about barbecues, he talked about family, talked about it farming and resources well, in this country. I just listened intently to your interview there with the former opposition leader Bill Shorten. And there was some food for thought in that interview. But yeah, it’s good that, there is these discussions about various issues facing Australians, and of course we have a cost-of-living crisis.

 

Ross SOLLY

How do we fix that?

 

Michael McCORMACK

Bill Shorten’s idea is to the talk up universities and it’s not such a bad idea. Matt Canavan’s ideas, he’s got some certainly around regional Australia and that’s not such a bad thing, Ross.

 

Ross SOLLY

Will he be a vastly different leader to David Littleproud, do you think?

 

Michael McCORMACK

I think he will. They’re two very, very different people. They both come from Queensland. But everybody brings a unique style, to the position, to the Parliament. And indeed Matt has been very strong, and I know he’s a big media performer. He will have his certain ideas about where we need to head as a nation and certainly as regional Australians. And look, I’m looking forward to what he presents, what he brings to the table, and I know a lot of Australians will be very interested in what he has to say, because when Matt Canavan speaks, the nation does tend to listen.

 

Ross SOLLY

Yeah. I mean, he’s always been and I say this in the nicest possible way – Michael McCormack, you’ll appreciate my use of this word. He’s always he’s always been a bit loose. He’s never been afraid to cross the floor, you know, or been afraid to speak out. As leader, you need to be more disciplined.

 

Michael McCORMACK

I don’t disagree, Ross. But you know yourself, if you’re in the media and your listeners would know too that mavericks often get a lot of publicity and often push a lot of doors open that would otherwise probably remain firmly shut. You look at the nation, you look at politics now, you look at the way the two-party political system is very much under pressure now probably more than it ever has been probably since Federation Day. Sometimes these mavericks, these people with their own individual style, are the ones who are getting the clicks, getting the hits on the media and resonating with the Australian public, who at the moment are disaffected.

 

Ross SOLLY

Sure, but he will have to rein in some of that behaviour or at least bring you all along with him for the ride. He won’t be able to just come off unhinged and say something or do something, because it could then put the rest of you in a tricky position.

 

Michael McCORMACK

I think it’ll be a bit more thoughtful. And obviously you’re right. You have to bring common sense to the table, and you have to be considered. And I think Matthew will do that, no doubt, absolutely. No question. But there also will still be those hints of him, going out with the brave front.

 

Ross SOLLY

There will still be a hint of larrikinism about him then, Michael McCormack?

 

Michael McCORMACK

Probably. I mean, there has to be. People don’t want to be politicians to be robots. I don’t want them just to be reading speeches produced by someone else. I, quite frankly, I think people want their individual flair. I like that, that uniqueness about some of the politicians who are getting the headlines, getting the traction.

 

Ross SOLLY

Do you think he’s right that we have lost that larrikin element, the Australian jokes, the Australian humour? I mean, you, Michael McCormack, you’re out in the bush. The everyday Australians out there, true blue Australians.

 

Michael McCORMACK

Well, it hasn’t stopped me. Sometimes it gets me into trouble. And the jokes aren’t always that great.

 

Ross SOLLY

You’ve given me a laugh on a few occasions, Michael.

 

Michael McCORMACK

Well, you’ve got to be yourself. I mean, I know the thing about National Party members is, you won’t die wondering what they think. And I think that’s something that regional Australia appreciates. But that said, I mean, obviously there’s a lot of issues out there to address at the moment. The fuel security issue is a major, major issue, and it’s sowing season in my electorate. Farmers and trucking companies are desperately worried about how they will plant the crops and how they will transport the crops. So that is first and foremost. Then, of course, that’s going to lead into a food security crisis if it continues. So there are lots of issues out there. It’s one thing that is all well and good to be saying we need to be having a bit of a laugh when we do, to release the pressure valve. But there are some very serious issues which I know Matt Canavan and his deputy Darren Chester will certainly be leading the National Party in addressing.

 

Ross SOLLY

Just on that, I was in your electorate. I was in the heart of your electorate last weekend in a beautiful part of the world, Michael McCormack. Wagga Wagga.

 

Michael McCORMACK

You should have texted me! We could have caught up for a coffee!

 

Ross SOLLY

Well, yes. I was looking for someone to shout me a coffee, actually. How is it going down there? Petrol prices? Diesel prices? Are you already feeling the pressure there?

 

Michael McCORMACK

Well, I think so. The petrol pumps are sleeved up and not in use. A lot of these stations are already running out. They’re running out of diesel in particular; people are queuing up. And the worrying thing is that people are hording and there’s already been reports in Wagga of petrol theft. So, that’s of great concern. That is of great concern. And people just need to calm themselves down. There is an issue with supply and distribution, but certainly we don’t want to see a toilet roll situation, because it’s one thing to horde toilet rolls and it’s another thing to horde petrol, because it is dangerous. You are not allowed to do it.

 

Ross SOLLY

No, stop it. You’re exactly right. People putting jerry cans in garages and that sort of stuff. It’s certainly not larrikin-like behaviour that. Michael McCormack, good to chat to you and thank you.

 

Michael McCORMACK

Bye now.

 

Ross SOLLY

Michael McCormack is the National Party Member for the Riverina.

ENDS

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