Mixed bag for North Queensland in Federal Budget: Katter

October 27, 2022

KENNEDY MP Bob Katter has welcomed significant announcements listed in the Federal Budget for North Queensland including $225m for exploration grants in the resource-rich “North West Minerals Province” near Mount Isa, significant investments in protecting Australia against foot and mouth disease, grants for invasive weeds and feral pigs, and funding to improve telecommunications in the electorate’s many black spots.


Despite this, Mr Katter warned that cost pressures will be placed upon Australia’s largest employer group, small business owners, who will now be forced to foot the bill of the expanded paid parental leave.


Resources

The Federal Government has announced $225m for exploration grants in the North West Minerals Province and $99.8m over three years from 2022–23 for the Strategic Critical Minerals Development Program to support Australian critical minerals producers overcome technical and market access barriers.

“North Queensland is the hub of new-age minerals, the minerals we require to produce batteries for electric motor cars – nickel, cadmium, copper.

“We asked the Prime Minister on Tuesday if he was aware of the North West’s potential, and we were very pleased with his answer recognising the availability of minerals and their sovereign requirement.

“And the PM’s has been as good as his word with serious money in the budget. It seems a government at long last has seen what we clearly see in the North West.”

Mr Katter also welcomed $22m to develop Townsville’s Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, which will host advanced manufacturing and technology industries that will underpin future jobs in North Queensland.

“We’ve had conversations with the French company supplying the nickel and cobalt and they are taking this project of new-age minerals very seriously.”


Agriculture

Mr Katter welcomed the Government’s announcement to right off $14.7m in debt for 5300 farmers through the Farm Household Allowance scheme.

“This wonderful scheme was secured by Mareeba’s rural allowance action council and if your farm did not make its repayments, the government topped you up. On the evidence we have, one in five Australian farmers survived only because of this wonderful scheme.

Mr Katter also praised significant investment into biosecurity which included $14m to improve defence against lumpy skin disease, $14m to improve defence against foot and mouth disease, as well as a $10m package for Indonesia to prevent the latter disease entering Australia.

There was also $30m announced for the removal invasive species, which in North Queensland include feral pigs and prickly acacia and there was a further $13m announced for innovative measures to remove invasive weeds.

“With the notorious prickly acacia and the pig devastation we have got to ensure that it gets priority in that $30m. It would appear that the pyrolysis type conversion of pricky acacia in Townsville surrounds can be seriously addressed with money from this $13m pool.”


Water

Mr Katter said there was still hope for the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme after the government announced deferring funding of $899.5 million of water projects including HIPCo to be reconsidered once business cases were completed. The Government will retain $1.0 billion over eight years from 2026–27 in the National Water Grid Fund to support future projects.

“They want a business case, well the business case is already there. But this is a project, that unless we’re going to accept the depopulation in 95 per cent of Australia, they have to look at Hughenden.

“The survival of this nation seriously depends on the occupation of the landmass of Australia. I think there has been a disconnect between the departments and ministers here.”

Mr Katter said he wasn’t surprised to see $5.4bn for Hells Gate had been scrapped.

“I can understand the decision because the proposal before the Federal Government, no sane person could have proceeded with that proposal and it didn't produce anything for North Queensland, it destroyed the five great benefits that flowed from the proper Hells Gate proposal.”

 

Jobs and skills

Mr Katter welcomed the Government’s move to increase the migration cap from 165,000 to 190,000 to address the workforce shortage, but said he was concerned about the focus of that migration cap being on Afghanistan.

“It is very worrying because they have a continuous history of violence, they have no history of democracy, rule of law or award wages.

“You must give priority to nations with similar values.”

Mr Katter also welcomed the announcement allowing pensioners returning to work to earn $11,800, up from $7,800 without having their payments affected.

“That’s excellent news and whilst it’s a trial we have got to make sure it becomes permanent; they are a highly skilled workforce. To put an irreplaceable workforce on the scrapheap is beyond my understanding.”

Telecommunications:  

With multiple mobile blackspots throughout the Kennedy electorate, Mr Katter said it was always welcomed news to see continuous funding for improved telecommunications.

The Government is investing $111m to improve mobile coverage part of Mobile Black Spot Program to implement commitments for new mobile infrastructure to improve mobile coverage and reception quality across Australia as well as $30m for the On Farm Connectivity Program to support farmers and agricultural businesses to purchase and install on farm connectivity equipment.

“Mareeba, Cairns, Fishery Falls and Mission Beach are red hot with black spots. We need the local communities and council to pick up the initiative and aggressively make sure we get this funding to improve coverage.”


Fuel

Mr Katter welcomed the announcement for $5.1m over three years from 2022–23 to support the development of sovereign capacity in renewable fuel manufacturing, particularly for the Australian Defence Force.

Mr Katter has long been an advocate for sovereign fuel manufacturing and with fellow crossbenchers is preparing to introduce legislation to increase the manufacturing and use of Australian-made fuel.

“We’ve got our foot in the door here, we want all fuel to be used in Australia, to be manufactured in Australia. This is a small start, but it is a start. No doubt in my mind this came from our crossbench initiative.

“We feel on the crossbenchers confident we’ve got the foot in the door, with our four-pronged legislation.”


Rural and regional Health

The Federal Government announced $50,000 one-off grants for regional medical practices to help them improve patient access, for capital works, training, or purchase new equipment.

The Government also announced $2.5 billion over four years to improve the quality of care in residential aged care facilities by requiring all facilities to have a registered nurse onsite 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

“We thank all the people who have made representations to us, Dieticians Australia, the NQ Nurses Union, the Primary Health Network, and I would single out Dr Lisa Fraser, Dr Rod Catton, Dr Grant Manypeney for their continuous efforts in advocating for regional health. We’ve welcomed the previous increase in wages and the HECS announcement, but we still have no doctors in many of our towns.”

Mr Katter said the reduction of the PBS co-payment from $42.50 to $30 “was not as good as it appears” because it made the threshold for free medication harder to earn, but it was a step in the right direction towards affordable health.

Roads

The Federal Government’s announcement of $210m for the upgrade of Kuranda Range Rd was labelled as “absolutely appalling” by Mr Katter.

“The only thing you can start doing there is tearing down the jungle and rainforest. That money has got to be spent on developing the tunnel, the Bridle Track, through the range. I tenaciously oppose this.”

However he welcomed $2.1bn for projects in Queensland, including $866.4m for the Bruce Highway and $400m for the Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers) upgrades.


Cyclone reinsurance pool  

The previously legislated cyclone reinsurance pool has received $15m for oversighting by the ACCC to ensure premiums are fair.

“This is vital. We’re paying 400 per cent more for insuring our house. We got the breakthrough for reinsurance from the last government and now Alliance has led the charge on our behalf, they said it does not achieve parity, so if they’re right, there’s $15m now to see if they’re right.

“And, I haven’t noticed a decrease in premiums like there should have been.”


Childcare

Mr Katter welcomed the Government’s $4.7bn to make early childhood education and care more affordable for Australian families. From July 2023, Child Care Subsidy rates will increase up to 90 per cent for eligible families earning less than $530,000. Families will continue to receive existing higher subsidy rates of up to 95 per cent for any additional children in care aged 5 and under.

“We are simply persecuting people who have families, people cannot afford to have children and we are a vanishing race.

“I’ve had staff who’ve spent up to 70 per cent of their salary on childcare. We need to support Australian families, or in 20 years’ time, death will exceed births.

Mr Katter was critical however, of the expansion to the paid parental leave program, arguing that it would bring with it, cost pressures to the mum and dad business owners throughout the region who will have to foot the bill.


ENDS

Katter says "Thank you" to the fighters

By Rachelle Ambrum • May 5, 2025
Elections aren't won by blokes in suits. They're won on the backs of the people who stand out in the sun and the rain, handing out how-to-vote cards for days on end. So, this victory belongs to them. God bless every one of you. I can't thank you enough. The same goes for my wife Susie, my five children, and even my grandchildren, who have worked tirelessly throughout this campaign to make so much of it happen. I certainly couldn't have done this without them. To my staff, who give their all (and then some) daily for the people of Kennedy... Thank you.

Katter applauds final approvals for Dungeness Breakwater and Dredging Project

By Rachelle Ambrum • April 30, 2025
KAP Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter MP, has applauded the Hinchinbrook community after the final State Government approvals were granted for the long-awaited Prescribed Tidal Works (Dungeness Breakwater and Dredging) project – marking a significant milestone in the fight to restore marine access to Dungeness and beyond. With the State's final tick of approval and Hinchinbrook Shire Council's endorsement of the Change Application, the project is now primed for shovel-ready status. The works include dredging the Enterprise Channel to allow all-tide marine access, and construction of a rock breakwater to reinstate the former sea wall, which was devastated during major weather events, including Cyclone Yasi. Mr Katter praised Hinchinbrook Mayor Ramon Jayo and State Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto, for their tireless, years-long fight to push the project through the bureaucratic mire. "This is a win for the people of Hinchinbrook. Mayor Jayo and Nick Dametto have fought like hell – like true tiger fighters – to keep this project alive and on the agenda – and now the approvals are finally in hand," Mr Katter said. With an estimated $12 million needed to complete construction, Mr Katter said he would turn his attention to putting the full weight of his office behind securing federal funding should he be re-elected. "The next fight is for federal funding. And I give you my word: if I'm returned to Canberra, I will make this project a priority. I'll take it straight to the Government and demand the $12 million needed to get it done." Mr Katter stressed the importance of the project not just for Hinchinbrook, but for the broader North Queensland marine economy. "Once complete, this project will unlock all-tidal access for recreational and commercial fishing vessels not only into Dungeness, but also to the Palm Island group and the Great Barrier Reef. We've seen what all-weather access can do for small communities at Mission Beach. It has been life-changing for those businesses that use the waterways for their livelihood or lifestyle. "The people of Hinchinbrook deserve nothing less than the same infrastructure." ENDS

Katter slams “soulless bureaucracy” blocking veterans from paying tribute

By Rachelle Ambrum • April 23, 2025
FEDERAL Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has come out swinging after Queensland's Weapons Licensing bureaucrats effectively shut down long-standing ANZAC Day commemorations by historical re-enactment groups, calling it "soulless, tone-deaf bureaucracy at its absolute worst." Mr Katter was alerted by Robert Finlay—a member of the Australian Living History Federation—that living history groups were being blocked from participating in ANZAC Day and other commemorative events due to shifting interpretations of licensing conditions. "These are not wild gun fanatics or some fringe mob," Mr Katter said. "These are our ex-servicemen, history enthusiasts, and community volunteers—many of them older veterans—who respectfully reenact military scenes to bring our past to life and honour our fallen. "And now, some bureaucrat sitting in a Brisbane office has decided they know better than the Minister, better than our RSLs, and better than common sense—and has told them to stop." The Australian Living History Federation and its member groups have followed the same licensing conditions since 2017, under exemptions MR4 and MR5 of Queensland's weapons licensing framework. These conditions set out the responsibilities for safe, respectful use of blank-fire and replica weapons during public displays. "Let me be very clear," Mr Katter continued, "there's been no change to the Weapons Act. There's no new regulation. No incident. Just an overzealous department deciding ANZAC Day needs to be micromanaged and possibly cancelled, unless these groups jump through a whole new set of invisible hoops." Emails from Mr Finlay show that despite providing all required notices and documentation—including safety guidelines and public liability insurance—the group was told they must now seek full approval for events they are merely participating in, not organising. Even attempts to clarify the matter with the Queensland Police Minister's office were brushed aside by Weapons Licensing, who appear unwilling to budge. "This is bureaucracy gone rogue. And what's worse—it's at the expense of ANZAC Day," Mr Katter said. "We've got crime exploding in regional Queensland and they're worried about a bloke in a slouch hat firing blanks in a tribute parade." "I'll be taking this to Canberra if it isn't resolved. These people are doing this out of respect, out of patriotism, and out of deep love for this country's history. And it's time our public servants showed a bit of the same." ENDS

Easter 2025 message from Bob Katter

By Rachelle Ambrum • April 18, 2025
FEDERAL Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has taken aim at supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths for refusing to display a simple nativity scene at Easter, calling it a disgraceful rejection of the very foundation of the holiday. Mr Katter released a video over the weekend slamming the corporate chains after they declined to display a small pop-out featuring Jesus, Mary, and Joseph in a stable—an item offered to all supermarkets in Cairns. “All the independents were more than happy to put it up,” Mr Katter said. “But Coles and Woolies? They turned their noses up at it.” The outspoken MP said he was “furious” and reminded viewers that Easter is about much more than chocolate eggs and retail profits. “Two thousand years ago, a baby was born in a shed out the back of a pub. This kid grew up and became pretty famous. He travelled around saying you should love your neighbour and make the world a better place.” “Well, let me remind you what happened to the money changers in the temple. They burnt in hell. And there's a message there for the likes of Woolworths and Coles.” Mr Katter accused the major supermarkets of profiting off Easter and Christmas while refusing to acknowledge their true meaning. “They make squillions off this time of year, flogging chocolate bunnies and hot cross buns months in advance—but when it comes to honouring what it’s all about, they disappear.” This latest outburst follows Mr Katter’s ongoing campaign against the supermarket duopoly, including a protest with farmers and fellow MP Andrew Gee outside a Woolworths in Bathurst last week. The protest focused on skyrocketing grocery prices and the pressure being placed on Australian producers. In March 2024, Mr Katter also introduced a private members bill to Parliament that seeks to reduce the market power of Coles and Woolworths by 20 per cent over five years and establish a new commissioner for food retailing. “The fight’s far from over,” he said. “Whether it’s price gouging, crushing our farmers, or scrubbing out our Christian values—I’ll keep calling them out.” ENDS

Katter flanks farmers to blow the whistle on supermarket markups

By Rachelle Ambrum • April 17, 2025
KAP Federal Member Bob Katter and Independent Member for Calare, Andrew Gee have been flanked by farmers out the front of a Woolworths in Bathurst in New South Wales to continue to crusade against the supermarket duopoly and to blow the whistle on the monstrous, unjustified markups of everyday fruit and vegetables. "The ACCC said in their February 2025 report there was no evidence of price gouging despite the fact that they are among the most profitable supermarkets in the world. Well, if you believe that, you believe in the tooth fairy and we will be moving for the head of the ACCC to be sacked when Parliament resumes," Mr Katter said. He said the rage he felt after reading the report left him with no other option but to prove farm gate prices in another part of the country were as bad as in north Queensland. "It is clear we set the agenda last year when we started the parliamentary year with an enormously powerful pig suit "snouts in the trough" stunt. On that same day, Woolworths reduced the price of over 400 items of food, and we introduced the Reducing Supermarket Dominance Bill. Then, every other party announced they would be moving for divestiture." Mr Katter said that the farm price "stunt" in Bathurst drew the attention needed to ensure that Australian voters understood the two major "big boys" in the Parliament will look after the interests of the two "big boys" outside the Parliament, and that only independent MPs would be able to pressure the government into action. "The spotlight has been put fairly and squarely on the supermarket giants and what happens to parasites under the bright heat of a spotlight? They perish," Mr Katter said. Hon Andrew Gee said, "We need to get the snouts of the supermarket giants out of the money trough. "They are wallowing in world-leading profits while paying our farmers a pittance and price gouging consumers on the way through. It's shocking behaviour in a cost-of-living crisis. "Our Bill would give farmers a better deal at the farm gate and consumers a better deal at the checkout. "It would even the playing field between farmers and consumers on the one hand, and the supermarket giants on the other. "Coles and Woolies are amongst the most profitable supermarkets in the world. They have an 80 per cent market share and prices have risen 24 per cent in the last five years. These profits have been made at a huge cost to our farmers and their own customers. It's disgraceful. "Farmers are leaving the land because they can't make a decent return, and consumers are at breaking point. "Our Bill is a gamechanger that will finally bring these price gougers to account," Mr Gee said. Mr Katter said he had been contacted by farmers and consumers from all over the country who had asked him to continue to fight on their behalf after being squeezed for years by the greedy supermarket giants and their market power. "A number of our farmers pay themselves some of the lowest wages in Australia. Recent calculations are that most farmers are paying themselves less than $2 an hour," he said. "The return that an Australian farmer can get for their produce is generally split with 50 per cent going to wages, a further 49 per cent covering transport, fertiliser, packaging and farm maintenance, leaving only 1 per cent for the farming family. "I mean, are we just going to let them continue screwing the farmers down through the floor and charging the consumers a 'squillion' dollars? No bloody way." The Reducing Supermarket Dominance Bill introduced to Parliament in March 2024: Forces divestiture of the supermarkets and their market power in the grocery sector to a maximum of 20 per cent within five years. Provides for 100 per cent markup on the price paid to producers, to what is charged to consumers. Scraps the 'food and grocery code of conduct', noting it fails to address power imbalances and instead provides a mechanism by which supermarkets control suppliers and producers. FARM GATE VERSUS SUPERMARKET PRICES

Gee and Katter launch plan to protect Australia's prime agricultural land

By Rachelle Ambrum • April 17, 2025
Independent Federal Member for Calare, Andrew Gee, and Independent Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, have announced a major new push to protect Australia’s most productive farmland, warning that without urgent action, vital agricultural land will continue to be lost to development and changing land use. If re-elected, the pair will introduce legislation, titled the Protecting Australia’s Prime Agricultural Land Bill, to safeguard Australia’s prime agricultural land, ensuring it remains dedicated to producing food and fibre for Australia and the world. Mr Gee said the need for action was clear, with urban expansion, explosion of lifestyle blocks, infrastructure and large-scale industrial projects rapidly consuming prime-quality farmland. “Food security is a key part of our national security. As the population of the world increases, food security is going to be a critical global issue and may even be a source of future conflict. It’s fundamental to the ongoing success and prosperity of our nation,” Mr Gee said. “Once prime agricultural land is gone, we can’t get it back. It’s a strategic national resource. You can’t grow food once the land is covered in concrete.” For the Central West, Mr Gee said the legislation would help secure the region’s agricultural and economic future. “This is about protecting the land that’s sustained our communities for generations,” he said. “This Bill backs our farmers, protects local jobs, and keeps the Central West one of Australia’s most vital food-producing regions.” Mr Katter said “The French and the European Union have said, ‘if we remove the farmers, we have no one to look after the land’. “Without farmers, the land turns into fire starters, feral pig pens and weed nurseries. “Farms are carbon absorbers. Take sugar cane for example, in a 12-month period a vacant field becomes solid CO2 absorbing biomass. A hectare of sugar absorbs 50 tonne of CO2. “If we lock agriculture out of our best grazing and food producing country then we will turn this nature wonderland into urban streets and industrial developments. “This bill gives the farmer the power to say, “bugger off.” The Protecting Australia’s Prime Agricultural Land Bill will ensure that prime agricultural land is preserved for agriculture while giving farmers agency and control over their land. The centrepiece of the policy will be farmers deciding how their land is used, not governments or anyone else. It would mean that people buying rural properties containing prime agricultural land would have to use that land for agriculture. It will take a strategic and nationally coordinated approach to supporting farmers’ rights to use and manage their land productively and ensure land use decisions do not undermine Australia’s future agricultural capacity and security. ENDS

Katter: fuel for thought - Australia's energy madness

By Rachelle Ambrum • April 11, 2025
Katter’s Australian Party MP Bob Katter has been out walking the streets and asking locals one simple question: “If you were the boss of Australia, what are the top three things you'd do?” “And I’ve got to say – I’ve loved the answers. Real, honest, common-sense ideas. One of the most popular? Cheaper fuel. And they’re dead right,” Mr Katter said. “Cheaper fuel isn’t hard. It’s not rocket science. In fact, there’s no country on earth better set up for ethanol than Australia. We’re one of the biggest sugar and grain producers on the planet. But instead of turning that into affordable, clean fuel – we hand our money over to foreign-owned oil corporations.” “What sort of country buys all its petrol from overseas when it has the resources sitting in its own backyard?” he asked. “We buy our fuel and even our solar panels from overseas – solar panels that are made in coal-powered factories in China, by the way – while we could be producing both our fuel and electricity here for half the price. Using our own workers, our own contractors, and supporting our own farmers.” “If people keep voting for the major parties, this madness will continue. You’ll keep paying through the nose while the profits keep flowing offshore.” ENDS

Reform it, don't just save it: Katters demand confidence for the North West

By Rachelle Ambrum • April 10, 2025
“This place needs to be allowed to play its role as the industry powerhouse for the state and national economy,” the Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter has said while in Mount Isa today. Flanked by the Federal Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter, Mr Katter doubled down on calls for all levels of government to prevent Glencore from sitting on Australian critical minerals. “The Prime Minister has said that the centre point of tariff negotiations with Trump are critical minerals,” he said. “Well, the North West Minerals Province is Australia's trump card. “It shows how out of touch Canberra and Brisbane are when you have on the same day, the Prime Minister touting our critical minerals and you have Glencore announcing they’re closing Mount Isa Mine and threatening to close the smelter – all due to energy prices. “You simply can’t have a critical minerals future in Australia without CopperString and a functioning copper mine and smelter at Mount Isa. “Australia’s sovereignty and international bargaining chip is being held to ransom by a Swiss-based global commodities trader, the Prime Minister must act urgently to defend what is rightly ours,” Mr Katter said. The Member for Traeger called for new thinking in how to keep a copper smelter serving the whole region. “We don’t want saving, we want reform. “We want arrangements such as an equity share or a new common user smelter, not cash handouts to Glencore. We need a special economic zone out here, and CopperString completed. “We need confidence for the whole region and Australia’s critical mineral future that there will be industrial capacity – not left to be pending an arbitrary decision from the profit hungry Glencore’s boardroom. “It’s immature of all governments to allow our nation’s sovereignty to be at stake,” the Member for Traeger said.

Katter swaps Akubra for bike helmet in push for Atherton trail expansion

By Rachelle Ambrum • April 10, 2025
KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, joined by Hill MP Shane Knuth, Tablelands Mayor Rod Marti, and Tablelands Cycle Sports President David Prete, has called on state and federal governments to commit funding for crucial pre-works assessments on stage two of the Atherton Forest Mountain Bike Park (AFMBP). Mr Katter emphasised the park's expansion would be vital for the economic prosperity of the Tablelands region and the broader Far North. "This is a region that pumps out sugarcane, avocados, bananas, coffee and more for the rest of the country – really, it's the food bowl of the north – and what do we ask in return? Just a small investment in infrastructure that brings people here, keeps locals active, and gives people something to do besides staring at a screen." Stage one of the AFMBP, delivered in 2013, was a collaborative effort involving Tablelands Cycle Sports (TCS), Tablelands Regional Council (TRC), Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, and First Australians representatives. The trail network now spans approximately 55 kilometres of purpose-built mountain bike trails designed and constructed by World Trail . Stage two aims to add over 50 kilometres of internationally benchmarked trails, positioning the AFMBP on the national and global map for mountain biking destinations. "These trails will be inclusive, world-class, and profitable," Mr Katter said. "They'll get kids off the couch, tourists out of the airport, and dollars flowing into the Far North." The existing trails meet almost all the criteria required for international trail recognition under World Trail benchmarking, including airport proximity, accommodation, and a natural landscape. The primary enhancement needed is increased trail density, which this expansion seeks to address. "David and the team at Tablelands Cycle Sports have done the hard yards for over a decade. And I really must acknowledge the work they've done to get this project to where it is today. They've maintained the trails, raised the flag, and pushed all three levels of government to take this seriously," Mr Katter said. "This isn't just about Atherton – better trails here mean a better chance for other northern towns like Cardwell and Mission Beach to increase the quality and quantity of their trails and capitalise on the momentum we are seeing elsewhere." KAP State Member for Hill, Shane Knuth, expressed his longstanding support for the AFMBP and urged all levels of government to collaborate on funding stage two. "I met with the Minister for Tourism recently and outlined how important this project is," he said. "Mountain biking is a rapidly growing sport and so is the adventure tourism market worldwide. "We have already seen Derby in Tasmania take advantage of this through significant government investment, which has paid off with an incredible increase in visitation numbers. "The Atherton Tablelands is perfectly placed to take a big chunk of this market and become a world-class destination not only for tourism but as a training base for international competitors for the 2032 Olympics. David Prete, founding President of Tablelands Cycle Sports, highlighted the potential of mountain biking for the region. "Tasmania got in early – they saw the opportunity[ 1 ]. Derby now attracts 60,000 plus visitors a year, and Whistler in Canada makes more money in the biking season than the ski season," Mr Prete explained. "Mountain bikers are high-value visitors – they stay longer, they spend more, and they come back[ 2 ]. This is a game-changer for Far North Queensland." A completed business case indicates the project would return $4 for every dollar invested and generate nearly $70 million for the regional economy over the next decade. "All we're asking for is funding to do the groundwork," Mr Katter said. "Stage one was a joint effort between Council, State, and Federal Governments – and it'll take the same kind of commitment again to make stage two a reality. "This is a golden opportunity to secure the Far North's future. So Canberra – saddle up and back it in." ENDS [1] www.theaustralian.com.au/travel/how-mountain-biking-helped-tasmanias-derby-blaze-a-prosperous-new-trail/news-story/62bf8806cfc19484c6528357d173009e [2] www.tourismtasmania.com.au/siteassets/documents/ttas-ua-mtb-enthusiast-profile.pdf

Katter responds to opposition budget reply

By Rachelle Ambrum • March 28, 2025
FEDERAL Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has welcomed key elements of the opposition's budget reply speech, particularly the commitment to a reserve resource policy (RRP)—a policy Katter has championed for over 15 years. The policy works to ensure a percentage of Australia's natural resources, in this case, gas, are reserved for domestic use before being exported. It is designed to safeguard Australia's energy security, lower domestic prices, and prioritise Australian industry. While acknowledging the opposition's move towards protecting the nation's natural wealth, Mr Katter also praised the Albanese government's commitment to regional infrastructure. "We praise the prime minister for committing to the great inland highway, and we thank the opposition leader for the RRP, which we've been screaming for—for more than 20 years," Mr Katter said. "We ask questions in parliament, and these questions stay in their memory bank," Mr Katter said. "The opportunity has arisen for him [Dutton] to act upon those questions. "I hope it is more than me preaching for RRP, but I'm not sure if I've ever heard anyone else preaching for it," Mr Katter remarked. For nearly two decades, Mr Katter has been a sustained and lone voice in the parliament pushing for a reserve resource policy after being part of the inner-power group in the Queensland Bjelke-Petersen government, which implemented a similar policy and saw Queensland's development proposer and household electricity bills remain stable. "Queensland's (former) reserve resource policy meant most of the state's electricity was coming from the world's biggest power stations and had zero input costs – the coal was free, taken by law, by the government under the RRP," Mr Katter explained. With Australia paying up to $16 a unit for its gas, while countries like the United States paid about $6 a unit, Mr Katter said the nation "could not compete" in manufacturing – a key influence in rising cost-of-living pressures. "Gas prices threaten the entire existence of industry in Australia. With the grim outlook for coal and all mineral processing – Australia is looking down the barrel of 200,000 jobs vanishing and, within three years, a plateau of the iron ore industry. "The outlook is as barren as the middle of the Simpson Desert. "And until now, governments (past and present) would rather export our resources, sell off our assets and let foreign companies prosper, rather than implement a reserve resource policy and retain our assets; which would reduce the ever increasing costs of living," said Mr Katter. "But let's see if the LNP are serious about this or not, or if it is just another 'polly promise' on election eve." ENDS
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