Politics · Australia · 1 hr ago
Landry to retire, opening Capricornia seat to Canavan bid
Michelle Landry will leave federal politics after the next election, ending her time as the Nationals MP for Capricornia, in central Queensland.
She says she will serve out her current term and is stepping aside after representing the electorate since 2013.
Her decision opens the way for Nationals leader Matt Canavan to seek a move from the Senate to the House of Representatives, though he has not confirmed he will run.
Capricornia includes areas around Rockhampton and has traditionally leaned towards Labor, but Landry won it for the Liberal National Party at the last five elections.
One Nation could make a strong challenge as its polling support has risen; party official James Ashby says he will decide in the New Year whether to run.
A pollster has warned that the surge could put Canavan’s Senate seat at risk, while saying a run in Capricornia would also be difficult.
The next election will decide who holds the seat, and the sources do not give its date.
Michelle Landry announced she will retire from federal politics at the next election, leaving the Capricornia seat open.
The Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, may seek to move from the Senate to the House of Representatives by contesting the Queensland seat.
Landry has represented Capricornia, in central Queensland, since 2013.
Canavan has said he would do whatever it takes to hold a lower house seat, but has not confirmed a run in Capricornia.
Pollster Kos Samaras warned that current polling could put Canavan’s Senate seat at risk as One Nation gains support.
- Who
- Michelle Landry, the Nationals MP for Capricornia, announced her retirement. Nationals leader Matt Canavan is considering a move to the seat.
- What
- Landry will not recontest Capricornia at the next federal election, opening a possible path for Canavan to move from the Senate to the House of Representatives.
- When
- Landry announced her decision on Friday, 23 October 2026. She plans to leave at the next election.
- Where
- The federal electorate of Capricornia in central Queensland, around Rockhampton.
- Why
- Landry said the time was right to step aside after representing the electorate since 2013. Canavan has said he would act if needed to hold a lower house seat.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Michelle Landry began representing the Capricornia electorate.
The Guardian Essential poll recorded One Nation at 25% nationally, Labor at 29% and the Coalition at 22%.
Matt Canavan said he would do whatever it takes to hold a lower house seat if required.
Landry announced she would not recontest Capricornia at the next election.
- Electorate
- Capricornia, central Queensland
- Current MP
- Michelle Landry
- Landry’s tenure began
- 2013
- Possible candidate
- Nationals leader Matt Canavan
- Guardian Essential poll
- One Nation 25%; Labor 29%; Coalition 22%
3 sources
What people are saying
I think they need to pull their heads in
if I’m required, if it is required to keep a seat, to hold one more seat in the lower house somewhere. I will do it.
He goes from a 0% chance of being elected as a senator, to potentially winning [in Capricornia]
On current polling, they’ll win nearly every seat the LNP holds in Queensland