Bob Katter hands over party leadership to his son

Colourful cross-bencher Bob Katter has handed over the leadership of his eponymous party to his son on Monday, marking a new era of the family's political dynasty.

Traeger MP Robbie Katter has represented north-west Queensland in state Parliament since 2012 and will now have to keep his father in check while he settles in as the new face of Katter's Australia Party.

"I'll have to get the whip out," he joked.

"He [Bob] takes a lot of managing, but I think it is healthy in a relationship to have tension and conflict.

"But it would be stupid of me to ignore 44 years of political experience."

Robbie says his leadership style would be more considered than his father's.

"I would say I am more discerning and probably not as quick on the trigger with issues and [I] perhaps don’t shoot from the hip – could be a good thing, could be a bad thing," he said.

"I’ve got youth on my side and a good team here beside me."

Bob Katter, who turns 75 this year, will continue in his role as federal member for Kennedy until at least the next election, his son said.

"We will keep him going as long as we can – he still has a fair bit to offer," Robbie said.

Robbie Katter (left) says he is ready to take control of his family's namesake party.Credit: Lydia Lynch

When asked if he would retreat quietly to the back of the party room, Bob laughed.

"Let’s face it, that is never going to happen. I am a gladiator; I have my sword, my helmet and my shield and I won’t be retiring from the ring."

Robbie Katter taking over the reins of the party is a natural progression for the family, who have been stalwarts in Queensland politics since the 1960s.

Bob Katter, a former Queensland minister, won the northern Queensland seat of Kennedy for the Nationals in 1993. It had been held previously by his father, Bob Katter senior, for 25 years.

Mr Katter left the Nationals in 2001 to sit as an independent before launching his namesake party in 2011.

The younger Mr Katter, expecting his first child in April, said he had no immediate plans to leave state Parliament and was gearing up to snatch as many regional seats as possible at the October election.

In a Facebook post on Monday, Bob Katter said stepping back from the party leadership would allow him time to "get at the throats of our enemies – the free marketeers and the lily-pad left".

"So the three state blokes have to step up to the plate, and into the arena, whether they like it or not," he wrote.

"I assure you, I ain’t leaving the arena and I'm certainly not handing them my sword and shield over either."