Perth pick for Northern ministry draws wrath of Bob Katter

Controversy is swirling around the decision by the new Federal Government to appoint a Perth-based MP as the Minister for Northern Australia.

LABOR’S lack of talent north of the Brisbane Line has been underscored by its selection of an MP from Perth to be the next Minister for Northern Australia.

The Member for Brand, Madeleine King, was sworn in as Minister for Resources and Northern Australia on Wednesday in a Cabinet lacking representation from the North.

Even Cairns-based Labor Senator Nita Green,appointed Special Envoy for the Great Barrier Reef, did not make the Outer Ministry.

Madeleine King looks on as then opposition leader Anthony Albanese speaks at a press conference at the Kwinana Nickel Refinery in Perth in 2021.

The selections drew fire from North Queensland MP Bob Katter who described Ms King’s appointment as “complete lunacy”.

“I’m trying to get a message to my fellow North Queenslanders, it’s not that they hate you or that they have higher priorities, it’s that you don’t exist for them. We are not on their radar, that’s the whole issue,” Mr Katter said.

Ms King said she was honoured to be named as the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia and denied she lacked experience in the North.

“Having held the resources portfolio in Opposition, I have spent a great deal of time on the ground at mine sites and mining communities across Australia, including in Northern Australia, and met regularly with local government representatives in places like Karratha, Isaac, East Pilbara and Gladstone,” Ms King said.

Bob Katter described Ms King’s appointment as “complete lunacy”. Pic by Brian Cassey

“Before that, I visited Northern Australia regularly to undertake parliamentary committee work, including Darwin, Katherine, and remote communities in the Northern Territory and WA. I have family in Far North Queensland, and I am delighted that my sister, who lives in Cairns, could join me for the swearing (on Wednesday).”

She said there were clear complementarities between the Resources and Northern Australia and that she looked forward to engaging with communities to address the challenges and grasp the opportunities.

Gold Coast-based Queensland Senator Murray Watt, previously Labor’s Northern Australia spokesman, was appointed Minister for Emergency Management and Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

One of the problems for Labor is that it has few representatives in Northern Australia although it does have two MPs in the Northern Territory, including Darwin-based MP Luke Gosling.

Mr Katter said that like all parties Labor would have been trying to appease its factions.

“We don’t count at all. Nor did we in the last government,” Mr Katter said.

He said the board of the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility had little or no northern representation.

Originally published as Perth pick for Northern ministry draws wrath of Bob Katter