Career
He was elected to the Australian Senate representing the state of Queensland at the 2013 federal election for the term beginning 1 July 2014. in the Turnbull Government, Canavan has served as the Minister for Northern Australia since 18 February 2016. Canavan was chief of staff to former Senator and current member for New England, Barnaby Joyce. He was previously an executive at Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdeler and an economist at the Productivity Commission.