ANNING PLANS ON MOVING NORTH
NEWLY minted Katter’s Australia Party senator Fraser Anning hasn’t wasted a second in the new role after backing a croc cull and confirming plans to move north on his first day.
The former One Nation member ended months of speculation after officially confirming he had signed up to KAP on Monday.
Senator Anning is currently based in the Brisbane office he inherited from his predecessor Malcolm Roberts, who was disqualified in November for being a dual citizen.
“I am looking at options to establish an office in North Queensland as soon as practicable,” he said.
Senator Anning split from One Nation within hours of entering Parliament, after Pauline Hanson demanded he step aside to allow Mr Roberts to return.
Senator Anning – who grew up near Charters Towers – said he had a “strong knowledge” of the issues and concerns of the people in the region. “I am a North Queenslander, born and bred,” he said.
Speaking in Cairns yesterday, Senator Anning said his stance on crocodile management was a good fit for KAP.
“The culling that used to go on was fine,” he said.
“It may have gone on a little too far, but we really need to get it going again, now.”
The former grazier turned publican said he had never kept count of how many crocodiles he had shot over the years.
“This was in North Queensland, where I came from originally, and up in the Gulf – before it was illegal,” he said.
Senator Anning said he was determined to ensure “vital infrastructure” in the region was appropriately funded.
“Specific priorities for me in the Townsville region include raising the wall of the Burdekin Dam and ensuring Townsville has enough water to meet its basic day- to- day needs,” he said.
“Another infrastructure project that is high on my priorities is dual- gauging the Townsville to Mount Isa rail line and constructing a standard- gauge rail line from Mount Isa to Tennant Creek.”
If Senator Anning relocated to the North he would join LNP senator Ian Macdonald as the only Queensland senators based outside the state’s southeast.
There are now five members of KAP across the Senate, federal and state parliaments.
Traeger MP Robbie Katter yesterday revealed plans for further expansion, including creating a new parliamentary seat in the far north that would be reserved for First Australians.
“We believe that ( indigenous people) are under- represented here in Queensland,” he said.
“We think it’s the right thing to do.”