Nationals leader says party must rebuild trust with women but rejects quotas

The leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, has said his party will make rebuilding trust with women a top priority, but rejected quotas for his party.

Littleproud outlined his vision for the Nationals to the party faithful gathered in Canberra for a federal council meeting on Saturday.

In the first address of the meeting, the Nationals federal president, Kay Hull, spoke of the importance of women in politics and the contribution they made to key regional industries, including agriculture.

The independents campaigned strongly on climate change action and integrity.

Hull said the Nationals was the most diverse of any political party, and spruiked the lived experience of its members.

The federal government will hold its jobs and skills summit in Canberra over the first two days in September.

Labor invited the opposition leader, Peter Dutton, to attend, or send a Coalition member in his place, but the Liberal party turned down the offer.

At the Nationals meeting on Saturday Littleproud said pensioners and veterans should be able to work more without their payments being affected, as a reward for their service to the nation.

The party will also fight for a visa to fast-track permanent residency for workers in rural and regional communities.

Littleproud said the program of paying university debt of healthcare workers in the regions should be extended to other graduates in areas experiencing skills shortages.