Nationals leader Michael McCormack will declare his party owes nothing to big business in a speech aimed at rallying the troops before a generation-defining election.

Mr McCormack will address the party's federal council in Canberra on Saturday for first time since becoming leader in February.

The deputy prime minister is set to draw the battlelines for the next federal election, due by May, with lower power prices and tax relief for small businesses top priorities.

"We are the party of family small businesses - in farming, manufacturing, retail, tourism and hospitality. We have your back," he is expected to say.

"We don't owe anything to big unions, big business or the latte-sipping inner-city Green set."

It comes as the government struggles to legislate corporate tax cuts for all-sized businesses, prompting calls within the coalition to dump the policy.

Mr McCormack will take aim at Bill Shorten as the most left-wing Labor leader in generations, warning his government would be at the beck and call of unions and subservient to the Greens.

"That's why the next election is the most important election we've faced in a generation," Mr McCormack is expected to say.

The Wagga Wagga-based MP will pledge to push for affordable power prices so heaters can be turned on in winter and air conditioners used in summer.

"We are the people who work in regional Australia on farms, in factories, at the local book store or the corner garage," Mr McCormack is expected to say.

"These are our people and we are proud of them and we will always stand up and fight for them."

This year's Nationals Federal Council will be the first since Barnaby Joyce lost the leadership after a scandal over his affair with an adviser.

Since taking the leadership, Mr McCormack has tried to provide a calming influence after the junior coalition partner was plunged into turmoil by the controversy surrounding Mr Joyce.

The conference is also be a chance for members to debate more than 50 policy motions.

That includes a push from the Young Nationals to put all people under 35 accessing unemployment benefits on the cashless welfare card.