Media Release

8 October 2015: Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today responded angrily to Nationals Party threats they might fail to ratify the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) in light of the agreements on sugar, saying that it was all empty talk that he’d heard before.

Three Nationals members are reported to be considering crossing the floor when the TPP comes before Parliament for ratification, given Australia will only be allowed to export an additional 65,000 tonnes of sugar a year to the United States. The industry had been seeking an extra 600,000 tonnes.

“I’d like to know, one single time, on any issue of importance, that any one of them has actually crossed the floor,” Mr Katter said.

“They make a big noise to act like a hero and get in the bloody newspapers, but then don’t do anything.

“It is their political party that is doing this, it’s their government that’s doing this, and their government should pay the cost.”

Mr Katter defected from the National party in 2001 following his vehement opposition to de-regulation of various industries, the last being dairy.

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