PODCAST: The War on Farmers: AgForce President Shane McCarthy Joins Bob Katter
June 4, 2026
This week, Bob sits down with AgForce Queensland President Shane McCarthy, better known to mates and colleagues simply as "Sheep".
In a frank discussion about the future of Australian agriculture, Sheep outlines the biggest challenges facing farmers today. He discusses the need for cutting through layers of red and green tape to ensure that producers can get on with the job of feeding the nation. The pair discuss the growing burden of regulation, the need for practical policy solutions, and why governments must start trusting farmers instead of tying them up in bureaucracy.
They also tackle the escalating pest crisis affecting rural Australia, including the impact of pigs, wild dogs, wild cats and other feral animals and invasive species that continue to devastate livestock, crops and native ecosystems across the country.
Along the way, Bob and Sheep share a few laughs, including a brief detour into the mystery of Bob's famously crooked nose, before reflecting on the homeland and values that shaped them both.
It's a conversation about agriculture, common sense and the people who keep Australia fed.
Listen now for a paddock-to-parliament discussion on farming, freedom and the future of regional Australia.
1. Refine the oil we export in Australia. 2. Require all government car purchased to be made in Australia. From just these to changes thousands of jobs will be created, and wealth and prosperity will return.
Fresh water is one of the most valuable of the world natural commodities. The Murray-Darling was fundamental to Australia’s development - the inland of the USA could not have been developed without water projects. In the Kennedy electorate alone, almost 40% of Australia’s fresh water runoff goes straight into the ocean- if just a small percentage of this water was captured and stored in dams - tremendous wealth and prosperity would follow. The solutions are here, the solutions are simple … Australians have access to great wealth, if only our government would provide the keys.
Time and time again… Australia keeps on exporting raw materials and importing refined or manufactured goods. Ethanol, a renewable clean liquid fuel, is made from grain and sugar - yet we ship the vast bulk of these materials overseas so other countries can refine or manufacture fuel. This fuel is then repurchased by Australians at a hugely inflated price. When we export these raw manuals we also export the jobs, economic generation, power and influence that comes with manufacturing the final product. The short sided nature of these policies is truely unbelievable. Australia First should be our “GO TO” for ALL our abundance of natural wealth - not a mere afterthought of scraps when all our foreign contracts have been exhausted.
In the early 70’s as a labourer Bob was earning today’s equivalent of $230k in wages with free meals and accommodation. Today that job pays about $130k. Cost of living prices have skyrocketed but wages haven’t kept pace. Businesses have been overwhelmed with bureaucrats and regulations. Australians are getting financially strangled and some are at breaking point. There is a pathway to economic prosperity… government investment in money-generating infrastructure and removal of bureaucratic regulations and restrictions. Governments need to again offer Australians hope and opportunity.
In the USA and Western Australia gas companies must supply local consumers first. In Australia’s eastern states we pay more than triple the price as gas companies prioritise foreign exports. Leaving the gas companies to set up their own rules is like putting a kid in charge of a candy shop. We need a proper Domestic Gas Reservation policy that puts to interests of Australians FIRST.
Last week in Parliament, the much anticipated Domestic Gas Reservation Bill was introduced. But it didn’t have either an Australia First principle or a capped gas price for Australian consumers. RESULT - nothing changes, Australians will continue to pay more and receive less of our own gas. WHY - questions need to be asked whether the authors of this bill are also linked to Australia’s gas producers - who seem to put the interest of company profits and overseas buyers ahead of everyday Australians. Bob has asked for amendments (below) but the ALP, Libs and Nats voted for their mates in the gas industry… This is not representation, it’s BETRAYAL. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME.
Electorate Bob (red tie and jeans) in Ingham’s annual Kindy Quiz Night? or Parli Bob (waistcoat and maroon scarf) in Airlie Beach’s Halloween Party? We love a good Bob pic!
MINERALS, WATER AND LAND - NQ WEALTH In Queensland, north of the Tropic Capricorn we have about 90% of Queensland’s water runoff, mineral and resource reserves. Economically, we could generate GREAT WEALTH, for the whole of Australia. Yet we have been straggled and regulated by a government thousands of kms away - government that spends billions in Brisbane. A North Queensland state removes those Brisbane bureaucrats and provides us with the autonomy we need to build the roads, dams,electricity lines, ports and other infrastructure we so desperately need.
Today the Federal Government has given an extra $10 million to finalise works at Cloncurry Airport following significant flood damage in late 2025 and early 2026. Huge congratulations must go to Mayor Greg Campbell, Cloncurry Council and all those who have fought hard to achieve this outcome. The proposed works will ensure the long-term operation of this vital transport hub to continue to support aeromedical services, business travel, tourism and mining operations.
If all government cars were hybrids. If our sugar and grain was converted to ethanol. If our oil was refined in Australia. WE WOULD BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN FUEL. This would save EVERY Australian taxpayer $40,000 a year, create hundreds of jobs and resurrect our sugar and grain industries. The answers are there… government just needs to act! To watch the full episode on Spotify, click here .
