Media Release

KENNEDY MP, Bob Katter said the Australian people know we are in a depression and if they don’t they will find out in the coming months as the impact of the Coronavirus lockdown begins to bite.

The KAP Federal Member said the Federal and State Governments must immediately begin a public works program of ‘make money’ projects rather than ‘absorb money’ projects.

“I’ve got a feeling we are a voice crying in the wilderness, but it happens to be the voice of Australia that is crying in the wilderness – not just mine,” he said.

“The Treasurer can call it a recession, whatever he likes but the reality is we are in a depression. The only way you can get out of a depression is to borrow large amounts of money and undertake public works programs. There’s no other way you can get out of it. If you continue to hand out money you will bankrupt the nation. That policy only works in the short term.

“You must undertake public works. If they are absorb money projects – and let me be specific, ring roads in Melbourne, tunnels in Brisbane, and stadiums in Sydney - then you will take money off the taxpayers for forever.

“If they are ‘make money’ projects – namely Hells Gate Dam, a taxpayer owned rail line into the Galilee Basin, and the Copperstring Transmission line - then you will bring massive amounts of revenue into the Australian economy for forever.”

Mr Katter said Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg and Prime Minister, Scott Morrison should be looking at ‘wealth creating machines’ as the Australian economy’s saviour.

“The question is whether you want to charge taxpayers $1B a year to service the rat race existence of the nation’s capital cities, or whether you build profit making projects,” he said.

“North Queensland’s big three projects are shovel ready and waiting for the Federal Government to lead us to prosperity.”

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