Media Release

Independent Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today confirmed his support for the Government’s flood levy.

Mr Katter said before Cyclone Yasi hit he had already delivered support conditional upon the levy being permanent, reduced in size and applied in an objective way to big and small communities.

"There is a massive amount of assistance being given to Brisbane. However, in 2009 in the Gulf we had three months of flooding, nine reported deaths but we got wiped like a dirty rag,’’ he said.

"But we will back Brisbane because we should look after each other and now I can stand on strong moral ground to ensure the levy is extended to Far North and Nth QLD as well as Sth East QLD."

Mr Katter said it was far easier for the Government to provide funding for flood and cyclone devastated areas with a levy rather than drawing from consolidated revenue.

"I am not in a happy position,’’ he said.

"Clearly the Government has me in a box because we are in such desperate need for assistance following Cyclone Yasi.’’

Mr Katter said he believed, however, that the Federal Government would get every cent back of its assistance money over the next two years from North Queensland tax returns if the proposed levy, as laid out to him, was delivered by the Government.