Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today questioned the Prime Minister over job creation in Australia, stating that before the next Federal election it was expected that 55,000 jobs would vanish in the motor vehicle construction industry, a further 20,000 in coal seam gas, 15,000 in coal and 3,000 in sugar.

Mr Katter asked the Prime Minister whether he would address the Reconstructing Task Force’s government purchasing policy proposals and consider financial guarantees enabling superannuation investment into a Galilee Rail line and the UBURIS Irrigation project.

However, Mr Katter said he was very disappointed with the Prime Minister’s response.

“The reaction was that there was no problem, that anyone who says there’s a problem is a doom merchant.

“Refusing to see reality will not serve the Government electorally and is disastrous for the Australian people. There are 17.5% of the work force that cannot find a full time job, that is a real job.

“Comparable figures in the Great Depression were 22%. In sharp contrast we now a very comprehensive and, by world standards, generous social welfare regime, but social welfare does not provide employment.”

Mr Katter said a simple measure which would kick start jobs would be for the Government to ensure that motor vehicles bought under Government contract be Australian made.

“This costs the tax payers nothing and guarantees a continued Australian manufacturing sector.

“In addition, the provision of a simple Government guarantee of $1000 million a year for three years; plus backing 10% ethanol in every bowser in at least Queensland and New South Wales; plus the Government building the rail line into the Galilee coal fields – in these four proposals there is 70,000 jobs. At a multiplier of 3:1, that’s 210,000 jobs.

“The Government must move to build the Galilee Rail Line. To wait upon the whim and timings of some foreign corporation when the economy of Queensland and I dare say the economy of Australia, is collapsing, is to me incomprehensible and utterly irresponsible.

“The figures I quote today are not plucked out of the air. We have lost over $20,000 million a year in coal income. By comparison the whole of Queensland budget for health, education, police and roads is $50,000 million a year.

“The price of thermal coal has dropped from over $140 a tonne to around $55 a tonne, similarly coking coal has dropped from $290 a tonne to $126 a tonne.

“There is no doubt that at this rate another 10,000 to 15,000 jobs will vanish over the next two years,” Mr Katter said.