Media Release

BOB Katter, Member for Kennedy has issued the Federal Government with his “wish list” of critical northern projects which must feature in this year’s budget due to be handed down in October.

“Number one is the Hughenden Irrigation Scheme which must remain as a line item. The work the Hughenden Irrigation Corporation (HIPCo) has put into addressing the State driven bureaucracy has been outstanding and this model is well on its way to being the templated micro-irrigation scheme that will roll out across the mid-west towns on the Flinders River, boosting their populations.”

“The Federal Government must now commit to building cattle numbers back up and can do so through micro-irrigation schemes. Currently there are five million head of cattle in the north with a turn off rate of 800,000 annually. With irrigation at Normanton and alike we will double the cattle numbers and turn off rates, generating an additional $4-$5 billion to the cattle economy annually.”

Mr Katter also warned the Federal Government that with the Member for Groom’s resignation, his vote and influence has increased significantly.

“I remind the Government that I have wielded great power in the Parliament in the past and there hasn’t been a comfortable majority in years so I would look at this wish list very closely,” he said.

Second on Mr Katter’s wish list is the transmission line from Mount Isa to Townsville, CopperString.

“CopperString needs to proceed and produce 800-1000 jobs during construction. I call on the Treasurer to review past budgets dating back to 2010 where all but PM Turnbull have allocated a $330m contingent underwriting to the transmission line. The Treasurer needs to reinstate this to help the country make money not just spend money.”

“The current road from Mareeba to Cairns is very dangerous and consistently congested,” Mr Katter said.

“We need a new road corridor connecting Mareeba to Cairns. An alternate route cutting through the Kuranda Range must be prioritised. This route would use the existing Kennedy Highway from Mareeba to the Clohesy River and then divert to Redlynch and would save taxpayers millions of dollars as the road was straight and used mainly flat forestry country.”

“Other proposals involving tunnels down the Kuranda Range cost billions of dollars. This would be in the ballpark of $300m to $400m and would open up the potential of what I consider to be one of the best tourism areas in the world, the Atherton Tablelands.”

“Hell’s Gates Dam has seen study-after-study into feasibility, viability and the compilation of business cases, but what is needed is the associated project funding of a cement factory and the industrial elements of the Hell’s Gates project. This means funding to produce a meatworks and funding to support the CO2 algae ponds technology.”

“Finally, I have requested Market Gardens for our First Australians and that previous allocations of money are still itemised in the budget, as well as establish the regulatory movement for online casinos which will keep gambling money from going overseas and put it back into the communities that need it most. By regulating gambling, it will also help prevent online gambling issues.”

Mr Katter also submitted an extensive list of local government projects to the Treasurer for consideration and inclusion into the 2020 budget.

ENDS