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Maverick MP Bob Katter says Mackay population could hit one million with rail line to Galilee Basin

Maverick MP Bob Katter has pledged to open up the Galilee Basin to more coal mining if his party wins enough seats at the federal election.

Bob Katter defends coal industry at Hay Point

Maverick MP Bob Katter has pledged to open up the Galilee Basin to more coal mining if Katter’s Australian Party wins enough seats at the federal election.

“We’ll tell you what’s going to happen if we get the balance of power,” he said.

“There will be a multi-user railway line going into the Galilee.

“Half of Australia’s coal reserves are in the Galilee.

“This place (Mackay) will explode, this city will have a million people.”

Mr Katter made the pledge in a bid to sway alienated voters from rival minority parties such United Australia Party and One Nation.

All three oppose vaccine mandates and net zero climate change targets and loudly proclaim their unequivocal support for coal.

But Mr Katter, speaking at the Hay Point export hub on Wednesday, said his party was the only one truly committed to development.

“Why we are different is we are not just saying that we believe in development,” he said.

In addition to trashing his minor party rivals, Mr Katter put his workman’s boot into Labor and the LNP, claiming the two major parties had betrayed coal workers in their bipartisan commitment to net zero.

“The ALP and the LNP are totally responsible for destroying this industry,” he said.

“Now please, if you work in the coal industry, for heaven’s sake, have the guts to stand up for your industry.”

At present, KAP holds just one seat at the federal level, the mammoth Kennedy electorate held by Mr Katter.

But Mr Katter said his party had ‘red hot’ prospects in parts of Central and North Queensland.

“We’re definitely not going all across Queensland because we’ve got target seats,” he said.

“Behind the scenes we are making great strides forward.

“We were weak in Cairns, now we are very strong in Cairns.

“Capricornia, question mark, you know. Obviously Flynn is very attractive.”

Bob Katter opposes net zero climate change targets and says coal is the industry that has ‘carried’ Australia in recent decades. Picture: Duncan Evans
Bob Katter opposes net zero climate change targets and says coal is the industry that has ‘carried’ Australia in recent decades. Picture: Duncan Evans

KAP courted controversial Dawson MP George Christensen in recent weeks, hoping the maverick MP would break ranks with the LNP, reconsider his decision to retire and run on the KAP ticket.

Mr Katter expressed his disappointment that a merger could not be brokered.

“He could win this seat, running for us or running as an independent,” he said.

“I don’t think there are any other options.

“It’s with very deep regret that I watch him walking away.”

Mr Katter also dismissed Andrew Willcox, the LNP’s candidate for Dawson, as a ‘clone’.

“They’re just people that come forward, you’ll never hear from them again,” he said.

“They’re just a bunch of clones who see an opportunity to get themselves into what they think is an important job.”

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/maverick-mp-bob-katter-says-mackay-population-could-hit-one-million-with-rail-line-to-galilee-basin/news-story/4e2e795e5fc34cf93801ca56dddd2c04