Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter is in Townsville today to address two of the north’s most pressing issues; crocodiles and the absolute necessity of splitting the state of Queensland. 

Mr Katter addressed media this morning reiterating the intentions of the KAP’s Safer Waterways Bill and highlighting why it must proceed through the Qld Parliament. 

Mr Katter said, “No one is game to walk on the beaches anymore. It’s doing enormous damage to our tourism and recreational industries and as Shane Knuth says, all we are asking it to get our waterways back. Our greatest recreational asset – our waterways – have been taken off us by Brisbane. 

“What we are asking for is for the removal of crocodiles from the population areas between Mackay and Port Douglas. It is a very tiny narrow strip. 

“To restore nature’s balance, we give back to First Australians some employment. If we give them back the right to access the crocs by way of safaris and egg harvesting, then you will put nature back in the balance that it was in for the last 40,000 years.” 

On the topic of splitting the state of Queensland, Mr Katter said it was essential to unlocking the northern region’s full potential. 

Mr Katter said, " Over $30,000 million has been spent on tunnels in Brisbane. They’ve got over 200 overpasses and North Queensland, which has virtually the same population, has no tunnels and almost no overpasses. 

“Brisbane has $5,000 million - $6,000 million worth pleasure domes on the Brisbane River; including the $1,000 million one the Government built for themselves – but we are up here getting nothing. 

“They will never develop North Queensland as long as the ALP Government is in power, and I expect the same for the LNP as well. They will never allow the Galilee to open and Hells Gate proper will never happen. Nor will any significant development ever happen so long as we are connected to Brisbane. 

“And I suspect that Brisbane doesn’t want it to happen because this region is the carrying power of Australia; we’ve got the minerals, we’ve got the water, we’ve got the coal. The future belongs to us, but that future will never be unlocked unless we get Home Rule, a new state." 

—ENDS—.