Bob vows to fight on
SO long as he feels like he can still work a 70-hour week and his passion for Australia rages in his soul, then North Queensland MP Bob Katter will put his hand up for re-election to federal parliament.
Katter’s Australian Party founder and Member for Kennedy, Mr Katter was elected for the 10th consecutive time to represent the large Queensland seat in 2019 with a swing of 2.9 per cent towards him, despite an unfavourable redistribution of his electorate.
He is one of only six MPS with a super-sized and geographically diverse electorate. It draws heavily on his time, to say the least.
Now, with less than 12 months remaining in this term in office and at the age of 76, Mr Katter said he will seek re-election for an 11th time.
“I can’t see that I can justify collecting my ‘treasure chest’ superannuation; and I have said continuously that I’m at the height of my intellectual powers, which is not very high, but it’s the highest I’ve been,” Mr Katter said.
“My energy levels are high too, the staff keep complaining they shouldn’t have to work a 70-hour week, but I do.
“The other thing is, most of all, I’ve just got this driving rage in my soul.”
Mr Katter said given the tiniest of portions of Australia were populated by people, it was little wonder that foreign nations would see this country as a place ripe for the picking.
He said the only thing the rest of the world was interested in Australia for was iron ore, coal, gas and cattle, all of which are located in the North of the country.
And unless there were politicians willing to stand up for the people in those parts of Australia then foreign interests would look to advance on us.
Mr Katter said while he still had a voice that could shout out for those people then he would stand for election.
“There’s one person out there screaming about the sale of our nations, at least one person screaming about not being able to defend our country, at least once person who loves Australian music, poetry and all the other cultural things,” he said.
“There’s one person that goes around in RM Williams boots and RM Williams jeans and an RM Williams shirt and an Akubra hat.
“I think it’s important that people can look to someone that is going to fight the fight on those issues.”