Bob spray mystifies

CITY leaders have reacted with confusion to colourful Federal MP Bob Katter’s bizarre swipe at Gold Coast institutions.

Mr Katter, the long-serving North Queensland political icon, this week gave an extended interview insisting sharks should be shot off the Coast, HOTA is no good and Marina Mirage was better when it was run by conman Christopher Skase.

“As far as I’m concerned it is impossible to eradicate crocodiles, it’s impossible to eradicate sharks, we can’t do it,” the Katter Party boss said.

“I think allowing people to protect themselves. If you’ve seen sharks out there near the beaches, then I’m quite sure, if we were allowed to do it, the boys would go out there with rifles and shoot them.”

Mr Katter, who has holidayed on the Coast for 75 years, slammed HOTA and its art collection and insisted Marina Mirage was long overdue for a revamp.

It left tourist scratching their heads.

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chairman Paul Donovan insisted HOTA and Marina Mirage were popular with the public. “All I can say is thank God there are better judges of tourism than Bob Katter,” he said. “Marina Mirage is very populated and HOTA has been well-patronised since it launched.

“But I will say: ‘Thanks for holidaying here Bob.’ ”

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster said he was mystified by the MP’s statement.

“If what he says was true and we have such problems, why does he keep coming here year after year?” he said.

But Mr Katter’s comments found support from one corner – Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow. “Bob is 100 per cent spot on,” she said.