Media Release

KENNEDY MP, Bob Katter has unveiled his plans to pressure government and his own political party colleagues to back the development of a national art gallery in Cairns which would become the “most magnificent gallery in Australia” and a major tourism drawcard for the region.

At a press conference at the Cairns Art Gallery today, Mr Katter spoke to media in front of Sidney Nolan’s bushranger Ned Kelly exhibition from Canberra, and said that he would talk to Queensland-based KAP MPs and Candidates about securing state and federal funding for a national art gallery.

“As a result of what has been achieved here with this exhibition I will be putting very strongly to my political party members that we have the biggest commercial art gallery in Australia up here in Cairns.

“One of the biggest tourist attractions on the Gold Coast was the most magnificent commercial art gallery but that’s gone now. We are going to replace it with a gallery up here.

“If I get my way here, there will be some very serious money to get this art gallery going.”

Mr Katter acknowledged that the project would have to be delivered in conjunction with the local Council and State Government, but dismissed concerns that the Queensland Gallery of Art already existed in Brisbane.

“No one is going to drive 4000km to go to that art gallery when the one they have here will be far better,” he said.

“A strong drawcard such as a national art gallery will increase visitation and attendance to other attractions in the north like Mission Beach, Paronella Park, the Great Barrier Reef and the Atherton/Mareeba Tablelands.”
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