Scott Morrison will be able to ‘smell the dead cattle’ during tour of disaster-hit Queensland

Bob Katter is demanding the Federal Government to do more to support farmers as Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits disaster-affected northwest Queensland.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison will be “able to smell the dead cattle” in drought-stricken Cloncurry today, Kennedy MP Bob Katter warns.

As the PM meets with graziers and farmers in north Queensland, Mr Katter warned that, unless more was done to help the region, his “friendly attitude” with the Federal Government could change.

The Kennedy MP, who holds a vital crossbench vote, is demanding the Government buy the farmers’ bank debt, write off 30 per cent of it and loan the rest back at a discounted interest rate.

Graziers are counting the cost of huge stock losses after the flood rain

Shine Lawyers considering Townsville floods class action

Bob Katter wants more to be done for farmers in western Queensland. Picture: Anna Rogers

But Mr Katter welcomed the PM coming to the region to see the devastation first hand.

“The flooding is gone, but the dead cattle (are not). He’ll be up in the chopper, he’ll be able to smell it in the chopper. That’s an immediate problem that has to be dealt with, a disease problem,” he said.

“These blokes will come good. You’re looking at the toughest, smartest blokes in the country.”

But Mr Katter said farmers would need at least $2 billion for restocking, as well as rebuilding water infrastructure and cattle fences.

“We’re not talking about loans or cheap interest rates, what we’re talking about is purchasing the bank debt with a 30 per cent write off. That 30 per cent will then be used to restock,” he said.

Thousands of heads of cattle have been lost in the wake of disastrous floods. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Northern Australia Minister Matt Canavan said the Government would continue to provide flood relief.

“We do have concessional lending programs in place to help support farmers rebuild and restock as they will need to do. There are generous interest rates over long periods of time, up to 10 years,” he said.

“I don’t think Mr Katter fully understands the support and policies that are out there in the first place.”

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten yesterday wrote to Mr Morrison offering to work in a bipartisan manner to help with drought recovery.

“The human and economic impact from the disaster is severe, the cost of the recovery will be very significant and is likely to take years,” he said.