‘Punish Labor’: Katter’s stunning threat to Premier ahead of election

Katter’s Australian Party is threatening to punish Premier Steven Miles by breaking tradition and directing its preferences against government at the October election.

Katter’s Australian Party is threatening to punish Premier Steven Miles by breaking tradition and directing its preferences against government at the October election.

In what could be a significant blow to Labor’s efforts in regional Queensland, a fed up Robbie Katter revealed his party was considering breaking neutrality amid fury over the pace of trialling on-country programs for juvenile First Nation offenders.

Mr Miles in February revealed the government would agree to the Katter’s Australian Party’s request for the trial for at risk youth, but Mr Katter argues the government has gone cold on the idea some five months later.

Robbie Katter says the Labor Party has let him down. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“The Labor Government has let us down critically on this issue and we’re pretty bitter about that, and we’ll be taking that through the next election,” he said.

“I think it’s fair to say at this point that was just a smoke screen to just keep people busy and distracted while they continue to see crime deepen, the problem deepen here in North Queensland.”

While unlikely to change the outcome of the October election, Mr Katter revealed failings on crime meant his party was considering urging its supports to preference a political party.

“We’ve seen nothing from the LNP in that same space but Labor are the government at the moment and it’s forced us to a position now for the first time in our party’s history that we’re now considering moving from a position of neutrality on our preferences going into this election,” he said.

“Bad government like that, that doesn’t address these burning issues in our part of North Queensland, they deserve to be punished.

“You can’t let that go unpunished when you ignore a problem like that, and particularly when you give people a false sense of optimism.”

The fallout could hurt Premier Steven Miles more at the October election. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mr Miles said expressions of interest had been received and a successful tenderer would be announced soon.

“All the Katter MPs have my number and if they want an update on that they should text or call me

“They aren’t ever backwards and doing that so I’m not sure why they’re feeling like they don’t have an update.

“The EOIs that we’ve received are currently being assessed and we look forward to being able to announce his successful tenderer.”

Mr Katter said he expected the state budget would depart from the $500m the government spent on the Cleveland Bay Detention Centre to house 150 kids and fund a “cheaper” on-country program.

Originally published as ‘Punish Labor’: Katter’s stunning threat to Premier ahead of election