Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter used his last opportunity of the 2014 parliamentary sitting calendar to question the Agricultural Minister on massive rural debt facing farmers in Australia.

Mr Katter said farm debt had blown out from $31 billion in 2003 to $64 billion in 2014.

“30,000 families have exited farming in that period.

“Will the Minister restore an Agricultural Bank lending at two per cent?

“Will the Minister put pressure on Queensland to provide every Northern landholder with a 200 hectare free-hold irrigation block?

“And will the Minister provide four $50 million loans, creating an abattoir and four Gulf Mid-West quartering works each with 50 such blocks?”

Mr Katter’s questions come ahead of the Rural Debt Crisis Summit due to be held at Winton, Queensland this Friday.

It is the last opportunity to find an answer to the debt crisis crippling the Australian Agricultural industry, before there is no Agricultural industry left. Farmers from around the country together with major banks and Government Ministers will be attending the meeting.

Mr Katter has previously said this period will go down as the blackest stain on the nation’s history; and is calling on the Government to set up a Reconstruction and Development Board.

The Rural Debt Crisis Summit will be held at Winton Shire Council Supper Rooms from 11:30am on Friday December 5, 2014.