Bob Katter takes on ACT government over Reconciliation Day public holiday

It’s safe to say Kennedy MP Bob Katter is not happy with an Australian state holding a public holiday for Reconciliation Day. Here’s why.

Bob Katter says the ACT government shouldn’t host a public holiday for Reconciliation Day.

Kennedy MP Bob Katter has blasted a state government for holding Reconciliation Day public holidays while Indigenous Australians are dying sooner.

The Australian Captial Territory state government hosts Reconciliation Day public holidays in May each year, with Mr Katter saying he will not let this “staggering hypocrisy” slide.

Mr Katter said he had discovered data showing that life expectancy rates Aboriginal communities were still low.

“There is not one single person doing anything about it in Canberra, And they have the absolute hypocrisy of giving themselves a holiday to commemorate the ‘Yes’ vote,” he said.

“I mean what staggering hypocrisy, sickening and every person in Australia should be sickened by it.”

Referring to places like Doomadgee in his electorate, he said life expectancy for Indigenous were still low.

Mr Katter said he was now serving notice that he would find the decision makers and would do his best to upset the apple cart.

“The only place in Australia where they voted yes was Canberra, the place responsible for that death rate is Canberra,” he said.

“The people and the referendum in the 1960s gave the power over First Australians to Canberra, took it off the state governments and gave it to Canberra, so they’ve got the responsibility.”

The Federal MP said he can’t sit back and do nothing.

“We’ve seen their (Indigenous Australians) life expectancy shrink and shrink,” Mr Katter said.

“I just can’t remain silent any longer.”

Mr Katter said he didn’t want to go into solutions yet.

“Look, I’m a federal Member, the federal government in the referendum in 1966, gave the powers over first Australian affairs from the state government to the federal government,” he said.

“So they’re ultimately responsible for the horrific figure.”

Originally published as Bob Katter takes on ACT government over Reconciliation Day public holiday