KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has written to the Prime Minister to immediately halve fuel excise to deliver emergency relief from record price pressures crippling the nation’s freight industry, and protect Australia’s primary producers. Mr Katter has warned the PM that farmers and freight operators being crushed by fuel costs across North Queensland are now reaching breaking point – with the escalating threat to their viability raising alarm that Australia’s biggest banana-growing region faces the prospect of fruit being left to rot this season, due to prohibitive fuel prices for harvest and transport. “If we fail to act quickly, the consequences will not be limited to regional Australia,” Mr Katter wrote to the PM. “When farmers in Kennedy cannot afford to harvest and transport their produce, supermarket shelves across the nation will feel the impact.” Mr Katter said that while farmers, truck drivers and families struggled under exorbitant fuel costs, the Commonwealth Government continued to collect both fuel excise and GST on every litre sold – “still taking the cream from every bowser while the people who grow and transport our food are pushed closer to the brink”. With the North Queensland electorate of Kennedy accounting for one of the nation’s largest and most productive food bowls – growing 90 per cent of Australia’s bananas for our second-most bought supermarket item, after toilet paper – Mr Katter said reports of growers now questioning whether they could afford to harvest fruit this season were “an unacceptable situation for a country as wealthy and resource-rich as Australia”. “We are being told farmers are letting fruit rot as the cost of picking it and trucking it to market no longer stacks up. That should send a chill through every government office in this country.” With immense pressure on the road freight industry that underpins agricultural supply chains, major North Queensland operators fear the unsustainable burden of out-of-control fuel costs. “Companies such as Blenner’s Transport and Curley's Transport – the lifeblood of our supply chain in North Queensland, moving produce from paddocks to plates – they are left with no choice but to pass on those increasing costs down the line,” said Mr Katter. “And the people at the very bottom of that chain are our farmers.” Mr Katter said halving the fuel excise would deliver relief not just to freight companies and farmers, but also families across the country. “This is a simple decision the Prime Minister can make right now to protect Australia’s farmers and the supply chain that feeds this nation.” ENDS

Yesterday, Hon Bob Katter MP was honoured to attend the commemorative service held by the Herbert River RSL Sub Branch in Ingham. In a moving gathering of veterans, families and community members, Mr Katter said together, they reflected on the service of our Anzacs and all those who have served our nation. "Thank you to everyone who attended the Ingham service with me yesterday in honour of our veterans," Mr Katter said. "Also, a big thank you to the Herbert River RSL Sub Branch in Ingham for organising another wonderful, dignified and respectful event." In recent years, Bob Katter has consistently emphasised the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. He has urged that our returned veterans be afforded dignity and fair treatment. “Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day are both timely reminders for veterans, their families and for the general public to acknowledge the sacrifices that Australians have made, and continue to make, for our country. At the Ingham service, Bob Katter reaffirmed his commitment to supporting our veterans and ensuring their sacrifice is never forgotten. He acknowledged the courage of those who have served, the ongoing service of the RSL branches and the vital role of community remembrance. The Office of Bob Katter MP looks forward to continuing to work with local RSL branches and veterans’ organisations across North Queensland to honour our uniformed service – past and present. ENDS

For the past two decades we have witnessed the persecution of Christians in Australia.  The head of the Anglican Church (Peter Hollingworth), the head of the Catholic Church (George Pell) and the most prominent spokesman for the evangelicals (Israel Folau), were all viciously attacked and removed.