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Liberal moderate James McGrath has secured the top position on the Queensland LNP’s Senate ticket above federal Nationals leader Matt Canavan.
McGrath was first elected to the Senate in 2013 and currently serves as opposition spokesman for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, urban infrastructure and cities, and special minister of state.
The Queensland senator said it was “a privilege to have been preselected as the lead Senate candidate for the LNP” and pledged to get “to work straight away, building an agenda that will deliver for Queenslanders and all Australians in close partnership with both Angus Taylor and Matt Canavan”.
Canavan, who recently defeated Kevin Hogan and Bridget McKenzie to replace David Littleproud as the new Nationals leader, expressed similar gratitude for his endorsement.
“Representing Queensland as a senator for the past 12 years has been the honour of my life,” Canavan said.
“I thank the LNP for choosing me as a Senate candidate once again.
“The next federal election is vital to our country’s future with Australia at a crossroads. We must show all of Australia’s forgotten people that with enough guts and courage we can turn things around.”
The LNP made the announcement at the State Council meeting in Brisbane on Saturday afternoon.
Brisbane-based lawyer Adam Stoker and Toowoomba mayoral advisor Michael Duff followed McGrath and Canavan in third and fourth position.
Stoker is the husband of former conservative LNP senator Amanda Stoker, who was ousted from the senate after losing her re-election bid at the 2022 federal election to McGrath. She is now the state member for Oodgeroo.
Duff was credited in the ticket announcement with a career serving regional Queensland, including as a political advisor, shire councillor and statutory board member.
In his keynote speech at the LNP State Council conference on Sunday, Premier David Crisafulli said he was “filled with hope” for the party’s future.
“I’m filled with hope, having seen one of our own [Matt Canavan] rise from the Upper House to lead the National Party,” Crisafulli said.
“[And] having seen the choice this room made in your Senate candidates, including the selfless act of party loyalty by Michael Duff, showing us that our values are always more important than the individual.”
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