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Nationals leader unveils plan to create an ‘Australia on steroids’

Nationals Leader Matt Canavan has called for new cities, more babies and a domestic space industry as part of his "Australia on steroids" economic plan.

In his first major address since winning party leadership last month, Canavan criticised the federal government for the state of the economy and called for a big shake up.

"I am proposing an Australian economic revolution, not a replay or a reset," he told the National Press Club this afternoon.

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Nationals Leader Matt Canavan has called for new cities, more babies and a domestic space industry as part of his "Australia on steroids" economic plan.

Canavan laid out his six-point economic plan he dubbed the "Patriot Agenda for an Australian Economic Revival":

  1. Scrap net-zero and invest in all forms of energy, including nuclear
  2. Close borders to mass migration
  3. Encourage a new baby boom
  4. Build new cities
  5. Protect manufacturing and key industries through all tools, including tariffs
  6. Create a national works program to build space ports, dams, roads, rail

A key part of his plan is to ditch the 2030 net-zero target, which he has been a vocal opponent of, and unlock nuclear energy.

Canavan called to build new cities and infrastructure, including for a domestic space industry, but did not reveal how he would fund it.

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Pedestrians and office workers walk through the Sydney CBD.

He compared Australia's singular orbital launch last year to New Zealand's 50 and said the space industry has become increasingly important for communications, defence and national security.

Canavan also hoped that building new cities in regional areas and embracing work from home measures would encourage people to move out of the major cities, afford a home and create a baby boom.

"If we've got people with homes and backyards, they would probably decide to have children," he said. 

Canavan did not reveal how he would fund any of his measures but criticised Labor's policies for failing to address the problem.

"We just need more of this country. Everything that is wrong with the country can be fixed by what is right," he said as he concluded his speech.

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