Yesterday, Hon Bob Katter MP was honoured to attend the commemorative service held by the Herbert River RSL Sub Branch in Ingham. In a moving gathering of veterans, families and community members, Mr Katter said together, they reflected on the service of our Anzacs and all those who have served our nation. "Thank you to everyone who attended the Ingham service with me yesterday in honour of our veterans," Mr Katter said. "Also, a big thank you to the Herbert River RSL Sub Branch in Ingham for organising another wonderful, dignified and respectful event." In recent years, Bob Katter has consistently emphasised the importance of remembering the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women. He has urged that our returned veterans be afforded dignity and fair treatment. “Remembrance Day and ANZAC Day are both timely reminders for veterans, their families and for the general public to acknowledge the sacrifices that Australians have made, and continue to make, for our country. At the Ingham service, Bob Katter reaffirmed his commitment to supporting our veterans and ensuring their sacrifice is never forgotten. He acknowledged the courage of those who have served, the ongoing service of the RSL branches and the vital role of community remembrance. The Office of Bob Katter MP looks forward to continuing to work with local RSL branches and veterans’ organisations across North Queensland to honour our uniformed service – past and present. ENDS

KAP Member for Kennedy, Bob Katter MP, was formally honoured last week with the unveiling of his official portrait in Parliament House in Canberra. The work, painted by renowned Australian artist David Darcy, joins the collection of portraits of former Prime Ministers, Speakers, Governor Generals and a small handful of others who have made a significant contribution to the nation. Mr Katter used the occasion to pay tribute not only to his family and colleagues but to the generations of Australians whose resilience and ingenuity built the country. “This is not a painting of ‘a person’ and I hope nobody sees it that way,” Mr Katter said. “It’s recognition of people that have very strong feelings about this country, to make it a land of opportunity, to have the same wonderful opportunities that I and most of my generation enjoyed.” In his speech, Mr Katter thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Speaker of the House Milton Dick, and acknowledged his long-standing friendship since entering Parliament with the Prime Minister, as well as the Speaker’s Charters Towers family connection. “I have been good friends with Anthony. Always liked the bloke since we first went into Parliament together. Albo, we’ve had words in the past, but whatever your shortcomings may be, I consider you a good friend,” Mr Katter said. He also recognised the work of Queensland grazier Russell Lethbridge and the Prime Minister in progressing the long-envisioned inland highway linking Far North Queensland to Melbourne. “That great inland highway will be completed within two and a half years, and I want to put on public record, thank you to both Russell Lethbridge and yourself, PM,” he said. Reflecting on his early political influences, Mr Katter paid tribute to both former Prime Minister John Howard and his own mentors, Sir Leo Hielscher, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen and Lady Pearl Logan. “I was and still am a great admirer of John Howard… But I appreciate Anthony Albanese – who like John Howard, is just an ordinary Australian,” he said. “With the superstars that I had the honour of working with… Leo and Joe, Queensland became the biggest coal exporting state on earth.” The Kennedy MP also reflected on his deep North Queensland roots, recounting stories of family service and sacrifice through war and hard work. “If you add a kid who was born at the end of the Second World War - a kid that knows his family lost a son at Gallipoli and another at Changi, then you understand what you are looking at in that portrait,” Mr Katter said. He paid special tribute to his wife Susie, describing her as the heart of their family and a driving force in his life. “Susie, who I have been madly in love with for 53 years… She took 12 acres of land that did not have a single tree upon it. It now has 1,200 native trees of all variety upon it. A loving wife. Five wonderful children. The girl was good. Real good.” Mr Katter also honoured the pioneers, pastoralists, and workers who shaped the Kennedy electorate and the nation. “This painting does not represent a bloke called Bob Katter. It represents the Charlie Macdonalds, the Dame Mary Gilmores, the Sir Hudson Fisches, the Ernest Henrys, and the Thiess brothers… It will also remember the Leichhardts, the Burke and Wills, the Gilberts, the Edmund Kennedys and all those great trailblazers that lost their lives exploring what Geoffrey Blainey called ‘A Land Half Won.’” He concluded his address with a heartfelt dedication to his late mother, “Every single act of my life has been an affirmation of my mother… So mum, your contribution to Australia is 33 great little Australians that will carry the banner forward. So, this is for you mum. And for all the other mums that have created our great nation.” ENDS

KENNEDY MP Bob Katter thanked the Federal Government, particularly Minister for Industry, Tim Ayres, for his announcement today, but he warned the $600 million over three years jointly funded investment was going to limp Mount Isa along till the next election. “We must put on record our appreciation of the involvement by the Minister. Robbie Katter said the Premier too has been helpful, but this game is not over. It is just starting. This proposal is a Band-Aid on a compound fracture. It might staunch the bleeding but it ain’t going to fix your leg. “We must thank all the people who came to our meetings and put shoulder to the wheel here. Thank you to all fighters for their role in achieving this stay of execution, particularly the Mayor of Mount Isa, Peta McRae, Townsville Enterprise Limited, CEO, Claudia Brunne Smith, Paul Farrow from the AWU, Maria James, CEO of MITEZ and all those other fighters who have not slept a wink over the past few months in their effort to save our town and Townsville’s industrial base. “To Glencore I say congratulations for out-negotiating not one government, but two. I take my hat off to them, these two governments have made a $600m bet that Queensland’s minerals economy is going to be much stronger by the time the next election comes around. How convenient. “Another phrase comes to mind. Danegeld. For those that aren’t familiar with this, it was a tax levied by the Anglo-Saxons to pay off Viking invaders of England. “We will eager learn more about this ‘transition authority’ they have proposed. “We are pleased to be fighting another day but are fired up by this decision and it has made us more aggressively and relentless on pursuing a reserve resource policy for gas. A $600 million Band-Aid is helpful, but we need an outcome that solves the source of the problem.” Mr Katter said he that he raised the issue with Minister Ayres when he visited his office late last night to discuss Mount Isa. “Look, I thank the federal Minister who really has been very good to deal with on the Mount Isa smelter, unless he makes Reserve Resource Policy his next item, we are doomed and Glencore will continue to seek bailouts, after bailouts, just as they did in 2016, 2020 and have again now.” ENDS i] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-23/mount-isa-copper-smelter-life-renewed-operating-three-more-years/12639234