Read about Katter’s Australian Party’s media mentions and moments from this week, including from radio, newspaper and more.

Katter’s Australian Party

String of club closures a worry (Northern Miner, July 27)

KENNEDY MP Bob Katter is calling for investigations into RSL Club closures after the shutting of a fifth club in his electorate. This week the Mareeba RSL closed the doors blaming unforeseen circumstances.

WIN Cairns, Cairns/Townsville, WIN News at 18:02

The State Opposition and Katter’s Australian Party are seeking deboot into the State Government over a key performance target of three months to remove problem crocodiles, saying it is far too long to get rid of dangers to the community. David Crisafulli says it shows how to touch Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is with croc country. Despite the Safer Waterways Bill, the government questioned the KAP’s actual commitment to the culls.

Senator Fraser Anning – Senator for Queensland

Senator Fraser Anning joins alt-right provocateur at Hyde Park rally in Sydney (The Australian/Daily Telegraph, ONLINE, July 28)

An Australian senator has joined Canadian far-right activist Lauren Southern at a rally condemning the South African government’s treatment of farmers. Ms Southern, 23, is a provocateur known for her controversial views on multiculturalism, Islam and feminism.

She teared up while addressing a protest group gathered in Sydney’s Hyde Park to voice concerns that South African farmers are victims of targeted hate crimes. Katter’s Australian Party senator Fraser Anning and Canadian far-right podcaster Stefan Molyneux also addressed the group of about 50 people before they marched to Circular Quay.

Monday 30^th July 2018

Segment on 4GL Longreach and West FM – Discussed the removal of the dialysis machine meaning those that require treatment need to move or travel to Rockhampton.

Thursday 2^nd July 2018

ABC Regional Radio Longreach – Discussed drought assistance (the best being getting water to the West). And once again issues surrounding the winding back of health services.

Bob Katter – Federal Member for Kennedy

Funding aid available for juniors (Herbert River Express, July 28)

GOVERNMENT ASPIRING athletes in the Kennedy electorate who need to travel for competition will be eligible to receive up to $750 to help with their costs.

Katter batters (The Australian, July 27)

Talk of dead bats always pushes our thoughts in the direction of Bob Katter. The nation’s premier flying fox non-fan, however, was busy with a different target: the not unanimously beloved My Health Record. He’s cross enough about it that when he erupted with a seething press release on the matter yesterday, there was hope Katman once again would go for a sudden escalation as he did recently when ripping into the pack of bums he holds responsible for white spot disease reaching the Australian prawn industry.

WIN Townsville, Townsville/Cairns WIN News at 18:06

RSL Queensland has reacted angrily to assertions by Bob Katter that there might be something more about the closure of RSL clubs in NQ, claiming there are factual, errors in Katter’s statement. The Federal MP for Kennedy says five RSL clubs were shut down in the electorate and he now holds grave suspicions about that is going on.

Radio 4KZ, , Innisfail, 08:00 Rural Northern News at 08:02

After Mareeba RSL Club closed its doors this week, KAP leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter is questioning the five recent club closures is more just a coincidence. Despite having thousand of members and providing popular social activities, management released a statement on the RSL’s Facebook page saying ‘the club will be closing due to unforeseen circumstances.’ Mr Katter believes they could be more to the story, as RSL clubs in Atherton, Tully, Mt Isa and Charters Towers also close their doors. He says he will write to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and State Minister responsible for clubs in Qld with a series of questions.

Let’s go Sharkie (The Australian, July 31)

With regards to the by-election South Australia hosted last Saturday, it’s possible Strewth trained its focus (such as it is) on the fate of the Liberal Party’s candidate purely so we could commit a pun crime in the form of the words “Georgina Downer falling victim to Mayo nays”. Bob Katter, of course, has no truck with anything so namby-pamby and rightly has given his attention to victor Rebekha Sharkie. Indeed, he has marked her triumph with the sort of blunt poetry for which we’d been crossing our fingers: “Katter congratulates Sharkie: Mayo brings us hope. Get rid of the bastards.” As is so often the case, the real Kat magic lies in the fleshing out.

Socialist claim not much of an insult (Innisfail Advocate, August 1)

It seems the Labor/Liberal/Green alliance is starting on the next election. Calling Kennedy MP Bob Katter a socialist is the start of the next campaign and we should be aware that this kind of rhetoric will continue. They think that by making voters frightened of a party that wants our roads, rail, ports, energy, water and farmland assets to remain in the hands of Australians is somehow socialistic. These “new age” parties have trodden on the foresight and nation building commitment our founding fathers ingrained in our culture.

Sky News – Paul Murray Live 02/08/18

Bob Katter appeared on Paul Murray Live to discuss a range of topics with a panel including the Australian Drought Crisis, political correctness and the by-election results.

Robbie Katter – State Member for Traeger

When regional fares cost the earth..and more (The Australian, July 30)

The crippling fares charged for regional air services have left towns bitter about the corporate muscle of Australia’s major airlines. Residents of places such as Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Weipa, Kununurra and Newman feel they are being held to ransom for living in a remote place, and being forced to pay thousands of dollars in airfares if they wish to travel any significant distance. It is not unusual for fares between destinations such as Mount Isa and Townsville, or Weipa and Brisbane, to cost more than fares from Sydney to Los Angeles.

Katter defends hearing absence (North West Star, July 28)

ROBBIE Katter has dismissed criticism from the LNP about the KAP’s non-appearance at Queensland parliament estimates hearings into agriculture. On Thursday the LNP accused the KAP of betraying the bush by failing to grill Agriculture Minister Mark Furner at estimates hearings.

Southern Cross Cairns, Cairns/Bundaberg/Mackay/Sunshine Coast/Townsville/Darwin Nine News Far North Queensland at 18:13

Traeger MP Robbie Katter claims Queensland is at risk of missing out on billions of dollars worth of export opportunities. Katter says proposed changes to shipping rules near the Great Barrier Reef could result in job cuts in regional communities. Katter is accusing the Queensland Government of blocking the multi-billion dollar industry. At the Estimates Hearings in Brisbane today, Katter confronted Infrastructure and Transport Minister Mark Bailey, revealing plans to put restrictions on a practice called transshipping which involves a transfer of cargo from one ship to another at sea. A report prepared by the Environment Department in 2017 has recommended changes to the Environmental Protection Act to tighten rules around the transshipping near the Great Barrier Reef. Katter says there’s no evidence of any environmental damage caused by transshipping activities, claiming the government is anti-jobs and anti-development.

Katter chosen as patron (Northern Miner, July 27)

COMMUNITY KATTER’S Australian Party State Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter has been named the patron of new Charters Towers charity, Our Town Foundation. Mr Katter, who was elected as the State Member for the Charters Towers region late last year after a reshuffle of Queensland’s electoral boundaries, said he was honoured to have been offered the role.

ABC Western Queensland, Longreach, 06:30 News at 06:32

Traeger MP Rob Katter has welcomed the Qld Civil and Administrative Tribunal’s decision to overturn the Weapons Licensing Authority’s rejection of Quilpie grazier Daniel Salmon’s handgun application. Katter says rifles are not always practical.

Kindy viability is endorsed (North West Star, July 31)

KATTER’S Australian Party State Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter has applauded the Hughenden Kindergarten and Early Childhood Centre community for rallying in the face of tough times. Mr Katter stopped in at the kindy recently to congratulate the centre on securing new flooring, which was made possible thanks to a Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant he had endorsed.

Government to sink trans-shipping Katter (Herbert River Express, August 1)
STATE KAP leader Robbie Katter has accused the government of regulating development and economic growth out of existence in North Queensland. “The government’s latest, smallminded regulation is to shut down trans-shipping which would have a huge impact on small communities in Queensland,” he said. “Trans-shipping has operated out of Karumba Port for around 20 years, resulting in approximately $10 billion in exports – stuffing state government coffers to the tune of around $500 million in royalties.”

ABC Western Queensland, Longreach, 06:30 News at 06:31

Rob Katter, Traeger MP, has accused the Qld government of wasting money by committing $200m to transferring teens from adult prisons to youth detention centres. Katter says Cleveland Youth Detention Centre officers are concerned for their safety due to overcrowding.

Kindy pushing towards bright future (Northern Miner, August 2)

TRAEGER MP Robbie Katter has applauded the Hughenden Kindergarten and Early Childhood Centre community for rallying in the face of tough times. Mr Katter stopped in at the kindy recently to congratulate the centre on securing new flooring, which was made possible thanks to a Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant he had endorsed.

Government to sink trans-shipping Katter (Northern Miner, August 2)

KATTER STATE KAP leader Robbie Katter has accused the government of regulating development and economic growth out of existence in North Queensland. “The government’s latest, smallminded regulation is to shut down transshipping which would have a huge impact on small communities in Queensland,” he said. “Trans-shipping has operated out of Karumba Port for around 20 years, resulting in approximately $10 billion in exports – stuffing state government coffers to the tune of around $500 million in royalties.”

People frustrated by MyHealth record (Northern Miner, August 2)

KAP Leader and federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter says people are mostly “angry and frustrated” by the government’s online health database which people will be forced to use if they don’t opt out by October 15. “My office has received a lot of phone calls and emails about the new My Heath Record (MHR) system and it’s fair to say they’re fed-up. People are not only raising concerns about their privacy but they’re completely bamboozled by how to use the whole system,” Mr Katter said.

Katter battles against abortion (North West Star, August 2)

ROBBIE Katter claims the majority of his constituents are in favour of keeping abortion a crime. “The majority of constituents who have been in touch with me so far have been supportive of my position,” Mr Katter said.

Robbie responds to bat numbers (North West Star, August 2)

MP ROBBIE Katter sits on an Advisory Group in Charters Towers which comes up with new strategies to mitigate the effects of bats in towns and deter them from our communities. Mr Katter said the State Government is very vocal about how bats must be handled in accordance with the Queensland Nature Conservation Act.

Southern Cross Mackay, Mackay, Nine News Mackay at 18:03

Recent calls from LNP Members Dale Last and Jason Costigan to control crocodile numbers in North Qld waterways have been welcomed by Robbie Katter. The Traeger MP says he doesn’t want their support to dry up before his party’s Safer Waterways Bill returns to parliament for a vote. Public consultations will be held in Mackay on August 27.

Zinc 666, Mt Isa, 06:30 News at 06:35

Traeger MP Robbie Katter is vowing to bring back a [Rural] Debt Reconstruction Bank to help rural towns struggling with drought. He says it has been tried successfully before and should work again.

Government to sink trans-shipping Katter (Burdekin Advocate, August 3)

STATE KAP leader Robbie Katter has accused the government of regulating development and economic growth out of existence in North Queensland. “The government’s latest, smallminded regulation is to shut down trans-shipping which would have a huge impact on small communities in Queensland,” he said. “Trans-shipping has operated out of Karumba Port for around 20 years, resulting in approximately $10 billion in exports – stuffing state government coffers to the tune of around $500 million in royalties.”

Shane Knuth – State Member for Hill

Grateful community (Herbert River Express, July 28)

Shane Knuth, the State Member for Hill, and myself recently held a community meeting in Herberton. It came as no surprise that several at this meeting raised the issue of youth crime but they spoke very highly of the officers at Herberton Police Station

Thank you boys in blue (North Queensland Register, August 2)

Shane Knuth, the state Member for Hill and myself recently held a community meeting in Herberton. These recurring meetings provide the best platform for people to directly raise their concerns and issues with us. It came as no surprise that several of the people at the meeting raised the issue of youth crime, a growing epidemic in north Queensland.

ABC Far North, Cairns, Breakfast at 08:31

Katter’s Australia Party MP Shane Knuth says the [State] Government is considering reclassifying Babinda south of Cairns as Zone F to allow for the immediate removal of crocodiles after a 3m crocodile has been spotted around 100m away from a popular park.

Radio 4KZ, Innisfail, 08:00 Rural Northern News at 08:01

Member of Hill, Shane Knuth is confident the changing crocodile zoning will be applied to areas in Babinda in response to safety concerns of increased sightings. Babinda is currently located in the General Management Zone, where reptiles will not be removed unless they show signs of aggression, and Mr Knuth is pointing out to the Minister of Environment that a new zone has been created in response to concerns expressed by the Mareeba Shire Council which allow for immediate removal of crocodile regardless of size and behaviour

Herberton police officers deserve pat on the back (Townsville Bulletin, August 3)

SHANE Knuth, the State Member for Hill, and myself recently held a community meeting in Herberton. These meetings provide the best platform for people to directly raise issues with us. So it came as no surprise that several people raised the issue of youth crime, a growing epidemic in North Queensland.

Nick Dametto – State Member for Hinchinbrook

– Featured in the Herbert River Express last Saturday regarding his support for extending the First Home Buyers’ Grant to existing homes.
– Urged Ingham to go all shades of red, white and green for this weekend’s Australian Italian Festival in a story in Wednesday’s Herbert River Express.
– Conducted a radio interview with ABC North Queensland on Thursday regarding feral brumbies along the Bruce Highway between Ingham and Townsville
– Put out a media release on Thursday celebrating $200,000 in State Government funding to conduct emergency repairs and maintenance on Port Hinchinbrook’s Sewerage Treatment Plant.

Dametto continues to push for greater grant (Herbert River Express, July 28)

PROPERTY FAMILIES and young people could reap the benefits if the First Home Owners’ Grant is expands to cover existing homes, Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto says. He’s pushing the State Government to expand the grant’s criteria to include not only new homes but existing homes.

106.3 FM, Townsville, 06:00 News at 06:03

Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto has been touring the Kennedy Valley with KAP leader Bob Katter, chatting to local farmers to hear their concerns. He says they are meeting with cane and banana farmers to find out what’s worrying them the most. Dametto will also participate at the Magnetic Island to Townsville Swim in support of Katter’s Chief of Staff Anne Pleash.

Cardwell takes step towards bright future  (Cassowary Coast Independent, July 19)

THE dream of rebuilding Cardwell is a step closer to reality following a ground-breaking meeting with stakeholders organised by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto yesterday. The Katter’s Australian Party MP was instrumental in bringing together representatives from Port Hinchinbrook mortgagee Sino-Resource Import and Export Co Ltd, Cassowary Coast Regional Council and maintenance firm Norship Marine to Cardwell for a discussion on how to restore town’s ailing development to its former glory.