Farmers, Fairness, Nuclear Power: National’s Pitch for a Stronger Future

‘One of the founding reasons why I got into parliament was that I’m sick of seeing young people leave regional Australia,’ Littleproud said.

Newly elected Nationals leader David Littleproud at a press conference after a Nationals Party meeting at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on May 30, 2022. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

If the Coalition wins the federal election on May 3, Nationals Leader David Littleproud is poised to become Australia’s next deputy prime minister.

On April 24, he used an address at the National Press Club to make a case for regional Australia, arguing that the Nationals are the only party fighting for the future of the bush.

“One of the founding reasons why I got into parliament was that I’m sick of seeing young people leave regional Australia,” Littleproud said.

“It’s time to bring them home and keep them home. Unless they have the amenity of life and service, they won’t be here. This is a legacy item that goes beyond politics.”

Littleproud outlined a vision built on core Nationals values, food security, energy reliability, fairness for farmers, and practical support for struggling communities.

He also defended Coalition policies on nuclear energy and responded to questions about the Coalition’s energy and Indigenous affairs positions.

Big Vision, Bigger Fund

At the centre of the Nationals’ election agenda is the creation of a $20 billion (US$12.8 billion) Regional Australia Future Fund. Seeded with $5 billion, the fund would be topped up by diverting a portion of annual windfalls from Australia’s $350 billion export sector.

“We will make sure that $1 billion every year goes to where it’s needed most—filling service gaps across regional Australia,” Littleproud said. “We’re a rich country, but we should be a smarter country.”

Littleproud also flagged a return of the agriculture visa, aiming to ensure that Australia’s fruit and vegetable crops don’t go unpicked due to labour shortages.

“We now represent as many nurses and police officers as farmers. But we will never walk away from the land.”

Food, Water and Farmgate Fairness

True to the Nationals’ rural roots, Littleproud announced a national food security plan to be implemented within six months of a Coalition victory.

He Australia’s major supermarkets, accusing them of abusing their market power at the expense of both farmers and consumers.

“In June and July last year, sheep and beef prices went down by 70 to 80 percent at the farm gate. At the checkout, they went down by 8 percent,” he said.

“We will make sure there is fairness and transparency from the farm gate to your plate.”

He also took issue with federal water buybacks, echoing calls from farmers for reform of what they see as heavy-handed and ineffective environmental policy.

“The Basin isn’t benefiting, and farmers are losing their lifeblood. That must change.”

Nuclear Now, Not Later

In response to critics of the Coalition’s plan to build nuclear power stations at former coal sites, he said polling showed the proposal enjoyed strong support in the seven regional communities selected.

“There’s no need to go in an election campaign where you have already won the votes,” he said. “We have already won the social licence in those seven communities.”

He said the Liberal Party even gained a 15 percent swing in Collie, Western Australia, at the state election in March, with nuclear policy being on the table.

When questioned about Liberal Leader Peter Dutton’s refusal to visit nuclear sites during the campaign, Littleproud said the Coalition had already done the groundwork.

He also dismissed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s claim that the nuclear policy would cost $600 billion.

“Our total grid cost will be just over $330 billion. Their grid, an all-renewables approach, will cost just under $600 billion.”

Littleproud Warns Against Labor-Greens Coalition

Littleproud warned of chaos if Labor, the Greens and Teals formed a governing alliance after the election.

“If you have Anthony Albanese, Adam Bandt in coalition with a sprinkle of Teals and independents putting fairy dust across Canberra—God help this country,” he said.

Albanese has publicly ruled out a formal deal with the Greens, but Littleproud said the real risk lay in a progressive alliance holding the balance of power.

No to the Voice, Yes to Real Reform

Littleproud reaffirmed the Nationals’ opposition to the Voice to Parliament, saying it would have repeated the mistakes of the past.

Instead, he called for a royal commission into child sexual abuse in Central Australia and a full audit of spending in Indigenous communities.

“Within our party room, we undertook a respectful process to hear the Yes and No cases,” he said. “After the Voice result, there was no victory lap. We went straight back to Parliament and moved for real action.”

As the Nationals seek to win 28 lower house seats and five Senate spots, Littleproud made clear his party’s mission: protect regional Australia, restore fairness, and deliver a future built on local voices and national strength.