Media Release

THE Australian Party’s Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has today told a summit on alternative fuels about the benefits of proposed ethanol projects to Australians’ health and hip pockets, from the fuel bowser to food security.

Addressing the Alternative Fuels Summit in Brisbane, Mr Katter warned that Australia risked being "condemned" by the international community if it failed to action biofuels projects such as those associated with the proposed Northern Australia Clean Energy Corridor.

"By using a tiny 2 per cent of North Australia’s land mass and 7 per cent of the region’s massive floodwaters, we can replace all of Australia’s imported petrol with cheaper, super-clean, no-carbon ethanol fuel – and feed an extra 20 million people," he said.

"This should be the goal of every intelligent, sensible, patriotic Australian."

Mr Katter said the southern two-thirds of Australia had effectively only the Murray-Darling basin for food production.

"The northern one-third, if it was a separate country, would be one of the most water-rich on earth," he said.

"And with its brilliant sunshine and predominantly flat arable land, we will be condemned as a pariah unless this very simple action is taken.

"Our nearest neighbour has 80 million of 240 million people who go to bed hungry every night," he said in concluding the three-day forum attended by global alternative fuel leaders," he said.