Media Release

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today called on the State Government to pass legislation to ensure that North Queensland be granted at least three of Queensland’s 12 Senate spots.

Mr Katter said that the dis-endorsement of Senator Jan McLucas by the ALP would leave North Queensland effectively unrepresented in the Senate, with the exception of a “lame duck” Townsville Senator.

“This will leave North Queensland, with a population of nearly a million people, with virtually no Senate representation whatsoever,” Mr Katter said.

“The Northern Territory and Canberra both have under half a million people yet have two Senators each. Tasmania with half a million people has 12 Senators.

“How could anyone on earth believe this was fair go?”

Mr Katter said that North Queensland was demographically 2,000 km from its seat of Government in Brisbane and nearly 4,000 km from its seat of Government in Canberra.

“If ever there was a case of out of sight out of mind, it’s North Queensland,” he said.

“With two thirds of Australia’s water, North Queensland has only been allowed to use less than a half of one percent of this water. Two per cent of that water could sustain half of Australia’s petrol needs and quadruple our cattle population.

“We are further away from realising our potential than we have been for the last 30 years.”

Mr Katter said that he would be encouraging the KAP State members as well as Billy Gordon, all flag waving North Queenslanders, to seek that North Queensland to be granted three of Queensland’s 12 Senate spots, ensuring a fair go for the North.

He said that the Constitution specifically allowed the Queensland State Parliament to divide the State into divisions and to determine the number of Senators for each division.

“The last State Government pulled $5,000 out of a hat for one more tunnel in Brisbane, no problems at all. They spent $4,000 million on pleasure domes on Brisbane’s South Bank, $60,000 million on overpasses and $14,000 million more on tunnels.

“All for Brisbane, which has much the same population as North Queensland.

“When will we as North Queenslanders wake up to the fact that both the major political parties are owned by Brisbane?

“Leaving an area much bigger than the Northern Territory, Canberra and Tasmania combined with no Senators is just an outrage,” Mr Katter said.