A struggling Queensland wind and solar farm owned by Australia’s second-richest person, Andrew Forrest, would be one of the beneficiaries of a 1100-kilometre power line that balance-of-power MP Bob Katter is trying to convince the federal government to underwrite.

Mr Forrest’s Squadron Energy business last year bought 75 per cent of the owner of Kennedy Energy Park, a renewable power station halfway between Townsville and Mount Isa.