Coal Man Discovers Broadband: Canavan's Regional Renaissance Runs on Wi-Fi

The Conversation · Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra · Wednesday 8 April 2026

Coal Man Discovers Broadband: Canavan's Regional Renaissance Runs on Wi-Fi

New Nationals leader Matt Canavan used his National Press Club address to pitch work-from-home as the engine of regional growth, framing decentralisation and sovereignty as his party's economic agenda.

Matt Canavan wants to grow the regions by letting people work from home, which is the Nationals finally admitting the bush doesn't have enough jobs to justify the commute. A coal man selling laptops-on-verandahs as sovereignty — Joh would've built a dam, Jack McEwen would've slapped a tariff on something. This mob's big vision for the country is better Wi-Fi.

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