HAT’S ALL, FOLKS
IN a seismic shift for the Queensland political landscape, maverick MP Bob Katter will hand over the reins of Katter’s Australian Party to his son in a bid to rejuvenate the outfit and take it into the future.
Katter’s Australian Party has entered its 10th year since Mr Katter launched it, surviving while other third-party movements have come and gone.
Son Robbie Katter will from today be making the policy, political and campaign calls for the KAP, which now boasts three state MPS and one federal.
But far from stepping out of the limelight, the colourful politician whose career has lasted almost 50 years, 74-year-old Bob Katter says he is not giving up the fight yet.
“I’ve been sitting up the front of the stage coach long enough,” Mr Katter said.
“I’ll still have the shotgun in my lap, but I’ll be sitting in the back looking at the map.”
Mr Katter has been at the helm of the party since it launched in 2011, but said it was time for the young Katter to take the KAP forward.
“I’m stepping down, so he has to step up – whether he likes it or not,” Mr Katter said.
Asked what prompted the change in leadership, Mr Katter pointed to the state election in which KAP led by Robbie Katter picked up three seats while federally it failed to pick up any outside Kennedy.
“I want to put on the record that I don’t think our performance at the federal election was anywhere near as good as in the state election,” he said.
The veteran Kennedy MP said there will be vastly different leadership under Robbie Katter, as well as more energy and a more modern approach.
“He’s a much more considered decision maker than myself. Some people think he’s less confrontational, but he’s more profoundly confrontation,” Mr Katter said.
“I’ll throw a quick hit at you, but he’s likely to do infinitely more damage.”
He said he would not be retiring from politics yet and would recontest Kennedy at the next election, if endorsed by party leader Robbie Katter and president Shane Paulger.
Robbie Katter said he would focus the party towards the next state election, with getting more dams built, a rail line to the Galilee Basin and rebuilding industries in regional Queensland still the top priorities.
He admitted his leadership style was different from his father’s, seeking to strike a balance between credibility and grabbing people’s attention.
“I’m not as upfront or aggressive, but I’ve got pretty good scores on the board,” the younger Katter said.