Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter is vehemently opposed to the sale of Australia’s assets.

The Federal budget announced it is committing $5 billion in financial incentives over five years to the States and Territories to sell assets and reinvest the sale proceeds into infrastructure.

Mr Katter is worried about the companies that may come under the axe when the State Government delivers their budget today.

Mr Katter argues it is very short sighted to sell off the people’s assets for a quick money fix.

“The Federal Government’s infrastructure incentive equals to less than a billion dollars divided by the States and Territories.

“The Townsville Port (in their annual report) recorded a $38.5m net profit, Gladstone Port : $73.4 m net profit, Mt Isa to Townsville Railway $449m net profit, Sunwater $20.9m net profit, this totals a combined net profit of $581.8m net profit per year, generating up to $3 billion in profits over five years.

“They want this money from the sales of assets to buy their way through the state election, why did our previous Government sell off assets? To buy baubles and lolly pops to buy their party back into election,” Mr Katter said.

There is a clear pattern of selling off assets that has Mr Katter fuming, “The Bligh Government sold the Abbot Point Port for $1.8 billion, it has an annual net profit of $19 million, lining the pockets of a private corporation, not the people of Queensland.

“When the Government sold off the Gateway Bridge we were told that we would pay a toll until the debt was paid off. The Government sold the Gateway Bridge and under corporatisation are now charging a tax on 100,000 South East Queenslanders nearly $150 a week. This bridge belonged to the people of Queensland, they built it for themselves – not some foreign company to make as much money as they like – forever,” Mr Katter said.

“When you corporatise electricity, water, and basic services, you are giving that company the right to tax you whatever they like. Clearly you can see this in the electricity industry. The price of household electricity in Queensland, prior to corporatisation in 2005 was $859 per year – in December 2013 it is $2107, it is now $2423 and in the very near future it will rise again by 13.6 per cent,” Mr Katter said.

Mr Katter believes the Qld Government is out of touch and has ‘Tunnel Vision’ for the allocation of the State Budget and for the sale of the ‘people’s assets’.

“The big city whirly gigs, pleasure domes, tunnels and fly over’s get your photo in the paper and will help the Government win elections, but history will pay judgement on you as the most petty, self-serving, avaricious and pretentious leaders of our time.

"You can fool some Australians all of the time, but you cannot fool all of us, all of the time. History will condemn you,” Mr Katter said.