Media Release

16 January 2016: KAP Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter believes democracy has been compromised in response to the Senate President’s decision to remove Senator Rod Culleton from the Senate before Senator Culleton’s bankruptcy appeals have been exhausted. Mr Katter is resolute that the bankruptcy ruling is not final until the appeals have been exhausted.

Mr Katter said, “The Senate President has a very checkered past. This reputation has been reinforced by his precipitate actions which quite frankly raise issues of ultra vires.

“We would not expect fairness from the ‘Senate Kangaroo Court’ but ultimately there’s going to be a lot of joeys looking for pouches to hide in after this appalling damage to democracy.

“The issue is fairly simple; they tried to railroad Senator Culleton out of the Senate for the loss of a $7.50 key of which he was subsequently found totally innocent.I just hope none of the Senators lose their hotel key when the hotelier doesn’t like them. The most dangerous precedent has been created here.

“On the second Culleton issue of bankruptcy, the ‘golden rule’ prevails under the LNP / ALP junta that runs Australia. The ‘golden rule’ :– “he who has the gold, rules”.

“Senator Rod Culleton did not have the money to fight off vindictive debt claims and being an average knock-about Australian, he was at a great disadvantage without the legal sophistication and big pockets of his opponents.

“If you can have the will of the people overturned for the loss of a $7.50 key and if you can have the will of the people overturned because someone doesn’t have the big pockets to pay the legal costs to fight debts whether valid or not, then there is clearly a debasement of our democracy.”

##ENDS##