Matt Canavan to run in Capricornia as One Nation's James Ashby withdraws - ABC News & Headlines – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Matt Canavan will seek a switch to the lower house. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)

Nationals leader Matt Canavan has announced he will nominate for preselection in the Queensland seat of Capricornia.

The seat will be vacated by retiring LNP member Michelle Landry before the next election.

One Nation's party director James Ashby was considering a tilt but has now ruled out running for the seat.

Nationals leader Matt Canavan says he wants to run for the seat of Capricornia at the next election. 

Senator Canavan confirmed today he would seek preselection for the Central Queensland seat that will be vacated by outgoing Nationals chief whip Michelle Landry.

Officially announcing his nomination alongside Ms Landry on the banks of the Fitzroy River in Queensland, Senator Canavan acknowledged the political risk of switching from the Senate to the lower house. 

After the announcement, One Nation's party director James Ashby ruled out running for the Central Queensland electorate, despite previously considering a tilt at the lower house seat.

Senator Pauline Hanson also said she would not run in Capricornia.

Senator Canavan's bid for the lower house was widely anticipated after the ABC revealed last month Ms Landry's intention to retire ahead of the next election, expected in 2028.

"There's going to be a real fight on for the next election," Senator Canavan told ABC Radio Capricornia today.

Senator Canavan said he needed to "step up" and take a risk by running for the House of Representatives during a "volatile" climate.

"It falls to me," he said after Ms Landry's resignation, adding he "desperately wanted" a change of government.

"I'm happy to sacrifice potentially my own political future to do that," he said.

"I want to be on the front lines with my troops as well. I'm the leader of the Nationals.

"I just have to be there in the trenches with them."

In a statement confirming he would not join the race in Capricornia, Mr Ashby, a close political ally of Senator Hanson and her former chief of staff, said he knew "a number of very worthy contenders" and he would be encouraging them to put up their hands. 

James Ashby will not contest the Capricornia seat. (ABC News: Jacob Kagi)

"I'll play a role in the campaign here in Capricornia, but my position as national director is one that I take serious; therefore I won't be nominating at pre-selection," Mr Ashby said. 

He said the electorate had been "enormously betrayed" by the Coalition in government and in opposition, saying that the mining, agriculture and tourism sectors were suffering. 

"Matt Canavan and his colleagues have never shouldered any of the responsibility," he said. 

"Until he and the Nationals admit they've been a part of the problem, voters across Capricornia will continue shifting their support to One Nation."

Senator Canavan, who lives in Yeppoon in the electorate, became the leader of the Nationals in March, replacing David Littleproud, who stepped down.

He currently holds the number two spot on the Liberal National Party of Queensland (LNP) Senate ticket, behind Liberal James McGrath.

A successful move from the Senate to the lower house would shore up the likelihood of Senator Canavan becoming deputy prime minister in a Coalition government, and assure those in the Nationals who hold the view that their leader should sit in the House of Representatives with the other major party leaders.

Opposition Leader Angus Taylor, when asked if a One Nation surge in popular support was pushing Senator Canavan out of the upper house, declined to comment on the minor party but backed Senator Canavan's bid.

"He's a valued colleague and I'd love to see him in the lower house," Mr Taylor said. 

Angus Taylor (right) supports Matt Canavan's bid for the lower house. (ABC News: Callum Flinn)

Nationals deputy Bridget McKenzie was asked on ABC Radio National Breakfast if the move was a risk for her Senate colleague.

"In this current political environment there is always a risk running for lower house seats," she said.

"I think Matt's got a great proposition. He has delivered for that community alongside Michelle Landry for a long period of time."

She said One Nation had "made a big song and dance … of wanting to get the PM out of the lodge" and she urged the party to target Labor seats instead of Coalition-held electorates.

Senator Canavan said he had been mulling the decision for a while after Ms Landry approached him a few months ago to signal she was considering leaving politics.

He stressed he was nominating for preselection in the seat, which the LNP holds with a 5.8 per cent margin, and was not yet the candidate.

"We're a grassroots party, and whether I'm leader or whatever, I've got to go and present before the Capricornia branch of the LNP and seek their support," he said.

He said the next election would be a "referendum on net zero" and that government needed to "unleash our nation's energy resources again", including coal, oil, gas and uranium.

"We should be building nuclear power stations," he said.

"The way to get cost of living down is to do everything, to build everything, to increase the supply of electricity."

Last year, the Nationals went ahead of their Coalition partners in abandoning their commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050, with the Liberals under then-leader Sussan Ley following.