MP for Kennedy Bob Katter shares thoughts on Federal Budget

An outspoken North Queensland politican has labelled the federal budget as being “full of metro lollipops and outlined a way to solve the issues with the Bruce Highway. SEE HIS PLAN.

Bob Katter press conference with members of Canegrowers, AgForce and QCAR (Qld Cane Agriculture and Renewables) discussing an appeal to the Prime Minister to increase Category D disaster grants to $75k to facilitate restocking and replanting efforts by farmers. Picture: Scott Radford-Chisholm / The Australian

An outspoken North Queensland politician has labelled the federal budget as being “full of metro lollipops and its only outcome is decay”.

Kennedy MP Bob Katter noted a lack of infrastructure and agriculture and mining opportunities for regional Australia.

He said the only significance for him was that there was “nothing significant in it”, saying upgrades were desperately needed to be done on the Bruce Highway.

His suggestions as a way to future proof the Bruce for flooding was the installation of tunnels.

“We have had emergency after emergency on the Bruce Highway and there is $7 billion in the budget for the Bruce Highway,” he said.

Mr Katter said his office is in the process of sending letters to all of the local authorities in North Queensland along that coastal highway to “take out all stoppers in attempting to secure that money, our share of the $7 billion.”

“We know where it gets spent, the Bruce Highway in the southeast corner,” he said.

Mp for Kennedy Bob Katter shares his thoughts on the 2025 Federal Budget. Picture: supplied

“Seymour, Gairloch gets cut every year and it’s just ridiculous, the main highway...and there is no way of getting out, they are trapped on the coast there.”

When the Bruce Highway was cut off at the Ollera Creek Bridge in February, Mr Katter said transport and freight came to a halt.

“Communities north of Townsville were cut off for nearly three weeks and an area that produced 15 per cent of Australia’s fruit and vegetables were unable to get to market. The supply chain was seriously impacted, and it was felt around the country,” he said.

Mr Katter said he will fight hard to ensure funding for the area and suggested the idea of tunnels

“Construction of the Bridle Track Tunnel, which will provide emergency evacuation for Cairns and the surrounds must be a priority and connecting the Great Inland Highway (Lynd to Charters Towers section), and key roads like the Bruce Highway at Seymour and Gairloch must also be fast-tracked to ensure our industries remain uninterrupted,” he said.

Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter speaks to the media in their appeal to the Prime Minister for Category D disaster grants to be given to flood-affected farmers. Picture: Shae Beplate.

He also criticised the budget as not having anything for the agricultural and mining sectors.

“It is clearly an anti-development anti-jobs agenda, with no mines and no agricultural consideration, whatsoever,” he said.

“The 2025 Budget reveals a government more focused on reactive policies rather than proactively addressing the needs of our nation.”

Mr Katter said the agriculture and mining sector is the backbone of the country’s economic growth and prosperity.

“But it is clear that the country is nothing more than a quarrying nation. Its income comes from iron ore, coal, bauxite, silicon – none are processed. We are giving our most vital resources to foreign landlords while shutting down our most lucrative industry: coal,” Mr Katter said.

“Significant investment is required to ensure Mount Isa remains the industrial and service hub of the NW Minerals Province. This Budget lacks that detail.”

Originally published as MP for Kennedy Bob Katter shares thoughts on Federal Budget