<p>Independent senator’s goals ‘much bigger’ than prime ministership, he reveals in first speech to national press club</p><ul><li><p>Get our <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/email-newsletters?CMP=cvau_sfl">new political email</a>, <a href="https://app.adjust.com/w4u7jx3">free app</a> or <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/series/full-story?CMP=cvau_sfl">daily news podcast</a></p></li></ul><p>He’s six foot tall and full of muscle, but David Pocock’s real strength is often sounding like the most sensible, commonsense voice in the room.</p><p>At his first speech to the national press club on Wednesday, he said he wasn’t launching a bid for prime minister – no matter how much some people might like the softly spoken senator to have more say in federal politics.</p><p>A 25% tax on gas exports, which he said could fund anything from boosting welfare to health reforms and aged care.</p><p>A 5% levy on datacentres to capture more benefits from the AI boom.</p><p>Transparency reforms to shine a light on lobbyists, secret meetings with politicians and vested interests.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/21/david-pocock-big-ambitions-first-speech-to-national-press-club-ntwnfb">Continue reading...</a>