Bob Katter impressed by Anthony Albanese’s Queensland manoeuvres

Bob Katter says Anthony Albanese has been “manoeuvring very well” in regional Queensland – which punished the ALP in 2019.

Crucial crossbencher Bob Katter says Anthony Albanese has been “manoeuvring very well” in regional Queensland after Labor’s disastrous 2019 campaign resulted in the ALP’s primary vote in the coal-rich state shrivelling to 26.7 per cent.

Mr Katter, a conservative who quit the Nationals in 2001, said he had been impressed with Mr Albanese’s interest in regional development and his “clear-cut” position on coal.

He said the Coalition had failed to build enough infrastructure in North Queensland during its past eight years in government, and this would affect his support if there were a hung parliament after the upcoming federal election.

“I was pretty certain the LNP was going to win until Scott Morrison signed up to (net zero by) 2050 and Albanese took advantage of that situation and came out with a clear-cut statement that they won’t close any coalmines or coal-fired power stations early,” Mr Katter said.

“Now I am leaning the other way thinking the ALP might win.

“I think Albanese has been manoeuvring extremely well, but he is up against a very clever politician and a bloke with a strong sense of Christianity and patriotism in the form of Morrison.”

Anthony Albanese has been praised by crossbencher Bob Katter. Picture: Cameron Bates

Continuing his week-long road trip through north and central Queensland, Mr Albanese spent Sunday in the seat of Kennedy, held by Mr Katter since 1993.

Speaking from Ingham, north of Townsville, Mr Albanese said he had a “good relationship” with Mr Katter.

“I had a good chat with him on Friday about his electorate, told him where we were coming. I invited him to come along, he‘s got family commitments this weekend.

“I am concerned with forming a majority Labor government, that is my only focus and that‘s what I want. I’ll work with anyone in the parliament if I’m elected to lead a government after the next election.”

In a tightening federal election race, Labor or the Coalition could be forced to negotiate with the crossbench to form government, in which case Mr Katter’s support would be key.

“Whoever gives us the best deal will get the nod and the Liberals are not batting real well because nothing has come through, there are no market gardens and there are no dams,” Mr Katter said.

“I have had a lot of promises.”

Mr Morrison committed more than $200m to Queensland water projects to secure Mr Katter’s support when the government lost its lower house majority in 2018 following Kerryn Phelps’ Wentworth by-election victory.

Mr Katter said while government funds had been allocated, “their machine has been unable to deliver”. He said the Prime Minister had also pledged to build market gardens in remote Indigenous communities.

“You have had three years and you haven’t put one bloody orange tree in the ground,” Mr Katter said.