How love and hatred began Bob Katter’s political career 50-years-ago

Federal MP Bob Katter says he didn’t get into politics because of his dad. In fact, it was to bring down a “b--tard” of a prime minister.

Federal MP Bob Katter denies his father was the reason he entered politics, but says rather it was his hatred for Gough Whitlam, who he believed ruined regional Australian livelihoods.

Mr Katter claims to be the last in a wave of federal parliamentarians that took an interest in politics because of Mr Whitlam, who he said reduced tariffs which increased vulnerability for the banana, sugar and cattle industries while prime minister in the 1970s.

Mr Katter has served 50 years across the Queensland and Federal parliaments, and if he wins next year’s election could potentially overtake the 52 year record set by former prime minister Billy Hughes.

He told this masthead that even though he helped his politician father Bob Katter Snr hand out how-to-vote cards across North West Queensland polling booths, political disinterest led to his sacking from his secretary position at the local Country Party branch.

“Clearly I wasn’t the slightest bit interested in politics, but I just suddenly was going to meetings everywhere, shooting my mouth off saying ‘we got to get rid of this b--stard (Mr Whitlam)’,” Mr Katter said.

Father and son parliamentary representatives, the Federal Party member for Kennedy Bob Katter snr (left) and the State National Party member for Flinders Robert (Bob) Katter jnr at the opening of state parliament in 1975.

“I wouldn’t have done that except for (Joh) Bjelke-Peterson, I could clearly see that the State Premier was really making that b--stard bleed.

“We don’t just catch a wave in to get into parliament, what we’re out there to do is to destroy that b--stard, to make waves, yeah, history vindicates us very, very strongly, he took our protection away.”

Nationally Mr Katter is known for his colourful expressions and controversial moments, such as “let there be 1000 blossoms bloom” and an obsession with crocodiles.

Federal MP Bob Katter gives a speech reflecting on his 50 years in politics. Picture: Sally Batt

But at a celebration for Mr Katter’s milestone parliamentary service at his hometown of Charters Towers over the weekend, attendees also reflected on his values of mateship and family, his lengthy questions in parliament, and his mindset towards life.

While crediting his wife Susie for having raised five children during his lengthy absences travelling the electorate and to and from parliament, he became emotional when he reflected on his mother Mabel, who he credited “for everything in my life.”

“I would like to say that every act I’ve ever made, everything I’ve ever accomplished for myself or other people, that’s a manifestation of my mother,” Mr Katter said, observing her commitment to her religious faith.

Federal politician Bob Katter and wife Susie with children Caroline, Olivia, Mary Jane, Eliza and Robbie in Bob's days as a State MP. Bob won the seat of Flinders in 1974 at age 29 and held it until 1992. The seat was later redrawn as Charters Towers, then Dalrymple, and now Traeger.

“Every day of my life I live, I hope, I live to my mother’s expectations.”

Among his political highlights was pushing to remove Julia Gillard as Prime Minister in 2013, in an effort to protect the live cattle industry to Indonesia.

While Mr Katter said he liked the ex-Prime Minister, he also said she had been pressured through by the media and unions to abolish the trade, which had a detrimental impact on business confidence and for graziers.

Mr Katter believed more needed to be done to address it under new leadership.

“We got the market reopened and to do that I had to get rid of Gillard and put Kevin Rudd in,” he said, referring to his influence within Labor’s minor government at the time.

“A lot of people held it against me for a long time and still hold it against me, but there was no way we could get the industry reopened unless Gillard was removed.

“Indonesia was never going to reopen the market, in the meantime all my friends were dying financially.”

Bob Katter relaxes with his wife Susie, and daughters from left, Eliza Nioa, Caroline Coupland and Olivia Katter, son Robbie and family dog Winston at home in Charters Towers in 2004. Picture: Michael Chambers.

He believed this nearly cost his political career following a costly campaign by the LNP to remove him through their candidate Noelene Ikin in 2013, who was prevented from running against him again due to a brain tumour that eventually killed her.

His son Robbie said the family had made sacrifices and that while his father always tried to be a presence at his Rugby League games, his sisters noticed their father’s absence.

“It was not political ascendancy, he doesn’t want to rule the world, or be the boss … he just wanted to get stuff done because he’s chartered a path according to his values.

“And that hasn’t always led him to the top spot.”

Originally published as How love and hatred began Bob Katter’s political career 50-years-ago