Media Release

KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter yesterday told Parliament that politicians should be ashamed by handing out an ‘election carrot’ $350 one-off welfare payment to people who struggle every day to make ends meet thanks to successive government policies.

“We’ve taken $10,000 off these poor people (as a result of the rising cost of living) but we are giving them $350 dollars back just before the election,” Mr Katter told the House of Representatives before voting for the payments in the Social Security and Other Legislation Amendment Income Support Bonus Bill.

“Please excuse the people of Australia for being cynical and please excuse them for loathing and detesting politicians.”

Mr Katter argued that Australia was a wealthy country but as a result of the deregulation of industry and selling of Australian assets, there was no ability to raise the welfare payment so desperately needed.

“There should be money in the till to raise the (dole) payment, not give them a one-off meagre $350,” he said.

“If we do not have the money to give to these people, then all we can do is give them a meagre $350.

“If this country was enjoying the great wealth that we should be enjoying, then we would have the money to pay them.”

Mr Katter reminded the House of Representatives that the strain placed on young families with one income starting at the current payment rate would force them to reconsider their financial ability to have children.

“Giving them $350 is not going to solve their problem when they have to try to keep a child alive on $7000 a year,” he said.