Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has ‘sunk the boot’ into the Federal Government in a letter to the Treasurer requesting that they front up with their portion of the $7.1 million required to build the Tully Multi-Use Sporting Complex.

Prompting the letter was the Cassowary Coast Regional Council and State Member for Hill, Shane Knuth’s successful bid to secure $3 million in funding out of the State-run ‘Round 4 - Building our Regions’ program.

Mr Katter has called on the Treasurer to fund the Federal Government’s component in the April Budget and he also put a call into the Prime Minister’s office.

Mr Katter was in Tully to congratulate the Tully grandstand user groups on their State win but conceded that it was only half the battle won.

“Now that Shane Knuth has got the breakthrough with serious money from the State Government, we have got a great launch pad, and I go forward very confident that we will be able to get some money off the Federal Government.

“Tully is one of the major rugby league towns in Australia. We’ve got more of our boys coming through from the Far North. Jake Clifford will be running on for the Cowboys, Thomas Flegler the great Tully Tiger ran on for the Broncos in his first-grade debut.

We are so proud of our Tully boys one of the great homes of rugby league – and there are certainly more young-guns in this town of their ilk.”

Cassowary Coast Regional Council Mayor John Kremastos supported Mr Katter’s bid for Federal funding.

“Cassowary Coast Regional Council appreciates the support of our local member, the Hon. Bob Katter MP, in seeking Federal Government funding for the multipurpose centre at Tully Showgrounds.

“We encourage the Federal Government to consider this request for regional funding, which will benefit so many people in our region. This centre is more than just a grandstand – it supports 19 user groups and also will have the potential to serve as a command centre to assist with recovery in the event of a natural disaster affecting the region,” Mayor Kremastos said.

Mr Katter said the Tully annual show was the most popular in Australia per capita and agreed that the facilities would be a huge economic contributor to the region.

“In a place like Tully, two dozen new jobs or so in construction is a jack-pot for local builders so we want to make sure that the full-scale project is seen through.

“It would be absolutely disgraceful if the Federal Government doesn’t come forward with some real money here.”

—ENDS—