Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, Member for Dalrymple Shane Knuth and Member for Mount Isa Robbie Katter have united in launching a call to action for the state and federal governments to partake in a crisis summit and come to the immediate aid of graziers facing an uncertain future from an industry that is almost at breaking point.

Graziers in the cattle industry have been left in a “crush” as a result of the collapse of cattle prices, the widespread drought stretching from Charters Towers to the Northern Territory, disastrous fires chewing up their property and the diminished live export market.

More recently Bovine Johne’s Disease has placed additional pressure on the industry as graziers reel from the quarantine regulations leaving numerous cattle properties moribund.

“We must urge upon the banks to shoulder a sense of responsibility in this crisis whilst both state and federal governments must be made to shoulder their responsibilities since most of these problems are attributable to the policies of successive governments,” Bob Katter said on behalf of the KAP state members.

“These circumstances compel immediate action and serious proposals will be developed over the next five days with members of a steering committee and other interested parties.

“The steering committee will be formed consisting of representatives of the vast bulk of the cattle industry in Northern Australia culminating in a state and federal government led crisis summit."

The members warned that paper losses to cattle and land values may already be reaching over $2,000 million and that the situation will dramatically worsen over the next twelve months.

Speaking on behalf of Shane Knuth and Robbie Katter, Mr Katter said, “This situation has reached breaking point. Rural debt in Queensland has leapt from $1.2 million to $1.4 million per farm in the last four months alone whereas over two years ago it was just $700k.

“It is unfair to criticise either government unless and until we put forward a united and workable plan. We have approached a number of keen figures in the industry to set up a steering committee to organise the crisis summit.

“The steering committee will insist that representatives from both the state and federal government their respected treasuries be in attendance at the crisis summit."

Mr Katter indicated that he spoke to the Federal Treasurer on Friday and informed him of the call to action and that the crisis summit steering committee would be announced next week.