KENNEDY MP Bob Katter MP led a scathing attack on the Albanese Government’s handling of the Excise Tariff Amendment (Draught Beer) Bill 2025 in Parliament, calling it un-Australian and warning that it was clear Labor was drunk on power moving legislation that threatens the heart of Aussie culture – having a beer at the local pub. “The original Labor Party was born in the pubs of Australia. These fellas in those days would quite literally drag you out of a pub and punch you in the face if you didn’t take a union ticket out – yet here we are, debating a law that taxes beer. I cannot think of a better example of just how dangerous and drunk on power the Labor party have become. They are now threatening the very fabric of our social and community life,” Mr Katter said. The Bill before Parliament seeks to freeze the automatic inflation-linked increase on draught beer excise for a two-year period from 1 August 2025 to 1 August 2027 but Mr Katter wants the increase scrapped indefinitely. Mr Katter seconded his crossbench colleague, Barnaby Joyce’s, second reading amendment of removing the annual increase to keep alive an Australia tradition. “Australia's identity very much comes out of the bush pub, and you are eroding the identity of Australians if you take that away. You are also eroding our ability to talk to each other,” Mr Katter said. Mr Katter, who is infamous for talking with patrons of pubs all over Australia, said one of the most important places to learn about the state of politics and the state of the nation was by talking to people having a beer. “As a member of parliament, I like to find out what people are thinking and what their attitude is towards the government's policies and the best way to do that is to go down to the local hotel. “I’ve been shown an interesting graph which shows suicides amongst males in Australia – parallels the graph of the decline of the hotels and people going into the pubs. “I know that, if I myself am really down, I just go down to the pub, have a lot of good fun with my mates and go home a lot happier and more relaxed than before. But, for people who are more traumatised by reality than, probably, I am, it really is a matter of life and death in many cases, and that's not an exaggeration. “There's a little town called Maxwelton, and I love pulling up there because of all the cockies in the area and all the contractors and various other people that are employed in the cattle and sheep industry. You find out what's going on. You could have a good time at the Maxwelton pub. Well, it doesn't exist anymore, because of the impositions that government placed upon it.” Mr Katter warned that while a freeze may superficially lower the pressure on draught beer prices, many in the hospitality and brewing sectors argue that a broader reform is needed to sustain small venues and local producers. “Beer is tradition, it is community, and it is part of our social fabric. A two-year freeze on indexation isn’t enough when pubs are struggling under rising costs, regulatory burdens and declining patrons,” Mr Katter added. “In the end, it’s about more than beer. It’s about protecting our way of life, our towns, and the simple Aussie traditions that bind us together,” Mr Katter concluded. ENDS

KENNEDY MP, Bob Katter extended his support to the Jewish community in Australia during a condolence motion in Parliament House today. The murder of so many innocent, everyday Australians, including the youngest - ten-year-old ‘Matilda’ – MUST be condemned at the highest level. Mr Katter said, “This wonderful little kid was murdered. “This lovely little girl called Matilda, whose parents had migrated to Australia and name their first child born in this country ‘Matilda’ as a tribute. My heart bleeds for them. This innocent little girl was shot dead by Islamic Extremists. “These murders were ‘known’ by the authorities, yet they were allowed to stay here and fester with their extreme beliefs, they were allowed to obtain weapons, they were allowed to travel overseas and return after ‘training’, and they ended up carrying out a horrific act of terrorism. There was a clear failure of the immigration authorities, ASIO, and the NSW Labor Government – firearm licensing. I’ll bet they don’t miss a night’s sleep over it.” In paying homage to the victims of the Bondi massacre, Mr Katter extended his support on behalf of the Australian people, but slammed the bodies responsible. “The people of Australia, they mourn for you,” he said. “Who was responsible for that murder, a couple of rabid bloody lunatics. We have got mad dogs everywhere, but the question must be who let those mad dogs into the country? “The first person that is guilty is the immigration department, and the Minister Tony Burke has to take responsibility for what occurred, which he has not done. “Secondly, ASIO had them on the watchlist and yet they were still allowed to collect three high powered rifles that are registered. What is the point in having an ASIO if you allow these people to have high powered rifles? This is a gang that couldn’t shoot straight. They are an absolute disgrace to the government. “Thirdly, the NSW government. The Liberal government when in power, refused to give this person on an ASIO watch list, a gun licence. Within months of the Labor party taking office, he gets his firearms licence and he gets three guns. “What, does he belong to the western Sydney clay shooting club does he? What… does he go shooting deer on the outskirts of Sydney does he? What could he possibly want the guns for? “So, the NSW government can take full responsibility for what has occurred. And my message to them is, don’t hide because YOU are responsible.” Mr Katter lashed unvetted mass immigration but cautioned that it wasn’t the “religion” to blame. “I must say that it isn’t the Islamic “religion”. Our neighbours the Indonesians are a Muslim country and they are excellent people. “The rabid mad dogs that have been allowed into this country have been from the Middle East and north Africa. “There are four wars going on there at last count. They are either killing each other or killing other people. “They attacked kids having a good time at a music festival and then they pulled the same stunt here in Australia. I spit upon them. And the people responsible for bringing them into this country have not been yarded and they need to be yarded.” ENDS