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AUSPOLLIEWATCH EVERY CLAIM LINKS TO ITS SOURCE · NOT A SCORECARD

Portrait of Matthew Canavan

Matthew Canavan

Liberal National Party · Senate · QLD · incumbent

Early life & education encyclopedia

Matthew James Canavan was born on 17 December 1980, born in Southport, Queensland. He attended Chisholm Catholic College, Cornubia, and graduated from the University of Queensland with bachelor's degrees in arts and economics. Before entering politics he worked as a senior economist for the Productivity Commission and for KPMG, and as a director of the Productivity Commission; he has been a senator for Queensland since 2014.

Background encyclopedia

Senior research economist and later director at the Productivity Commission, senior executive at KPMG, then chief of staff to Senator Barnaby Joyce 2010-2013. Minister for Resources and Northern Australia 2016-2020, resigning from cabinet in February 2020. Elected leader of the National Party on 11 March 2026; Shadow Minister for Trade, Investment and Tourism from 16 March 2026.

Elected 2022 · QLD CANAVAN, Matt (Liberal National Party of Queensland) was declared elected 3rd of 6 at the 2022 federal election. [AEC results]

Sourced positions

Each position is the member's own stated view or vote, supported by the listed sources. The badge says what kind of source backs it — official record (Hansard, a parliament, a government or an electoral commission), own statement (their own site or their party's), news report (journalism or a third-party organisation) or encyclopedia. That is a statement about the evidence, not about how much we believe it. This page records public statements and conduct only — see methodology.

AyeNoPairedDid not vote

Immigration own statement

On a speech page about migration/protection legislation, Canavan supports strict border control and deterrence of unauthorised boat arrivals, taking pride that the government 'put a stop to' people smuggling, and supports requiring asylum seekers to take reasonable steps to establish their identity and make protection visa applications in good faith. He argues these measures are consistent with international obligations and cites the reduction of children in detention.

Votes on record · 4

Faith & religion encyclopedia

Canavan is a Roman Catholic; he has said he "rediscovered" his Roman Catholic faith while preparing for his marriage.

Economic nationalism own statement

In a January 2021 policy paper, Canavan called to reverse the decline in Australian manufacturing by reinvesting in coal and gas, 'protecting Australian jobs from unfair overseas competition', introducing a 'Buy Australian Act' to give preference to Australian-made goods in government contracts, and protecting key manufacturing industries including by tariffs; he wrote that this challenges 'longstanding commitments to free trade and the removal of industry protection' but that security challenges require backing Australian industrial development.

Foreign policy & aid own statement

Canavan argues Australia's defence strategy has put too much stake on nuclear submarines that would not be delivered until the 2040s, and that the AUKUS agreement has been put under review by the Trump administration. He calls for higher defence spending, warns that "economic dependence on China only deepens their malign influence", and stresses retaining sovereignty by working with close allies like the US.

Votes on record · 2

Citizenship (s44 eligibility) encyclopedia

Referred to the High Court in the 2017-18 citizenship crisis over possible Italian citizenship by descent; on 27 October 2017 the Court held he had never been an Italian citizen and was validly elected.

Economy & tax recorded votes

Votes on record · 8

Welfare & social services recorded votes

Votes on record · 3

Workplace & industrial relations recorded votes

Votes on record · 2

Freedom of speech official record

Co-signed the Nationals senators' additional comments to the Senate committee report on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 (25 November 2024), which argued the bill compromised free speech and should not proceed, that the definitions of misinformation, disinformation and serious harm were vague, broad and subjective, and that the inquiry was rushed. The comments supported the bill's withdrawal.

Votes on record · 3

Drugs & law and order recorded votes

Votes on record · 7

Gambling & gaming reform recorded votes

Votes on record · 1

First Nations & treaty recorded votes

Votes on record · 2

Integrity & anti-corruption recorded votes

Votes on record · 9

Housing & planning recorded votes

Votes on record · 3

  • ⇄Housing Australia Amendment (Accountability) Bill 2025Liberal senator Wendy Askew's bill to make changes to Housing Australia's investment mandate — including the Home Guarantee Scheme — subject to parliamentary disallowance rather than ministerial direction alone.Second and third reading · Senate · carried 36–2526 Mar 2026 ↗
  • ✓Housing Investment Probity Bill 2024Liberal senator Andrew Bragg's bill to bar the Housing Australia Future Fund from dealing with the CFMEU or organisations connected with it, including the Cbus super fund.Second reading · Senate · negatived 26–3626 Mar 2026 ↗

Health recorded votes

Votes on record · 6

Education recorded votes

Votes on record · 2

Transport & infrastructure recorded votes

Votes on record · 2

Energy recorded votes

Votes on record · 1

Environment & water recorded votes

Votes on record · 2

Votes are shown as the official record lists them — Hansard federally and in New South Wales; Votes and Proceedings, Minutes of the Proceedings and Hansard in Victoria; the Record of Proceedings in Queensland; the Votes and Proceedings and Minutes of Proceedings in Western Australia; the Votes and Proceedings (House of Assembly) and Hansard (Legislative Council) in South Australia; the Votes and Proceedings of both chambers in Tasmania. "Did not vote" means the member held the seat that day and is on neither list — the record says who was in the chamber, not why, so it is never an abstention. Western Australia’s record prints no pairs, so a member paired there shows as did not vote. Nothing is shown for a presiding officer who by law gives only a casting vote (the Speaker and the President in South Australia, the President in Tasmania), nor for the member presiding at a Tasmanian division, which Tasmania’s journals record. Which bills sit under which issue is an editorial choice, made bill by bill with a reason read from the second-reading speech. A bill decided by an earlier parliament (Queensland’s 2018 abortion law reform, for one) is shown with that parliament named, read from the official record of the day. For Queensland and the federal parliament “did not vote” there means the member held a seat that day, as their service is recorded; for the other earlier parliaments the record of who held a seat could not be read, so only the printed Aye, No and paired votes are shown.

Record last updated 2026-10-10.