Nationals leader Matt Canavan to run for lower house seat in possible showdown with One Nation’s James Ashby

The Nationals leader, Matt Canavan, will run in a lower house Queensland seat at the next federal election, in a move that may see him face off with Pauline Hanson’s chief of staff.

The announcement follows the retirement of the Capricornia MP Michelle Landry, and could result in a contest against James Ashby in a major battle for regional seats.

“The issue is we need to keep this seat to change the government, and I want us to continue to deliver for central Queensland,” Canavan told the Courier Mail on Monday.

“I don’t think you’ll be surprised by this announcement but I’m not going to die wondering. I may very well die politically, but I’m not going to die wondering. I’ll give it my all.”

Landry, based in Rockhampton, announced her decision last month to retire from politics and not to recontest her seat at the next election.

The Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie said One Nation should not be fighting to win Coalition-held seats if the party was serious about taking on Labor.

“If One Nation is really serious about firing the liar, then they need to start running in Labor party seats instead of running against someone like Matt Canavan,” she told Nine’s Today show.

“[I’m] not afraid of a fight – I want to save our country, and that means changing the prime minister, and that means taking Labor party seats.”