Media Release

KAP Leader and the Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter MP believes the Treasurer Joe Hockey is simply reflecting the attitudes of a Government that is wildly out of touch with non-metropolitan Australia.

Mr Katter believes the people living in metropolitan areas enjoy a subsidised public transport system, a service not available to non-metropolitan areas.

“The Kennedy electorate covers a very large portion of North West Queensland – people have to travel great distances to get groceries, visit the dentist, and go to a specialist or to catch a plane,” Mr Katter said.

“In Queensland there is effectively no public transportation system out of the greater Brisbane area. Every single person has to rely on a motorcar to travel.

“There are approx. 2.5 million people in Queensland and three million people in New South Wales living outside of the greater metropolitan area, a fuel excise will affect every single one of these people.

“Commuter transportation systems are heavily subsidised. We are already paying a 50 per cent tax on fuel – whereas metropolitan areas enjoy 50 per cent subsidy on public transport,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter believes the fuel excise will also have an impact on transported goods.

“The excise will put further burden on our transport industries and will see the cost of freighted goods rise dramatically.

"This will affect everyone and will certainly impact on those from a lower economic demographic.

"We have got to pay GST on the transportation already. This will see a rise in the price of fresh fruit and vegetables,” Mr Katter said.