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In December 2017, Katter was one of only four members of the House of Representatives to oppose the [[Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017|Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017]] legalising same-sex marriage in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title=House of Representatives Hansard THURSDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2017|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/716f5e71-dee3-40a3-9385-653e048de81b/toc_pdf/House%20of%20Representatives_2017_12_07_5783.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf|accessdate=8 December 2017|ref=102}}</ref>
In December 2017, Katter was one of only four members of the House of Representatives to oppose the [[Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Act 2017|Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017]] legalising same-sex marriage in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title=House of Representatives Hansard THURSDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2017|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/chamber/hansardr/716f5e71-dee3-40a3-9385-653e048de81b/toc_pdf/House%20of%20Representatives_2017_12_07_5783.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf|accessdate=8 December 2017|ref=102}}</ref>

Katter is known to support views aligned with Western white monoculture, as demonstrated by his support of Senator Fraser Anning's 2018 parliamentary speech, which called for a 'final solution' to Muslim immigration into Australia.


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==

Revision as of 14:47, 15 August 2018

This article is about the current Australian politician. For his father, see Bob Katter Sr.

The Honourable
Bob Katter
MP
Leader of Katter's Australian Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
5 June 2011
DeputyRay Hopper
Robbie Katter
Preceded byParty established
Member of the Australian Parliament
for Kennedy
Incumbent
Assumed office
13 March 1993
Preceded byRob Hulls
Minister for Mines and Energy
of Queensland
In office
25 September 1989 – 7 December 1989
PremierRussell Cooper
Preceded byMartin Tenni
Succeeded byThomas Gilmore (Mines)
Tony McGrady (Energy)
Minister for Development and Community Services of Queensland
In office
7 November 1983 – 25 September 1989
PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen
Michael Ahern
Russell Cooper
Preceded byThomas Gilmore
Succeeded byMartin Tenni
Member of the Queensland Parliament
for Flinders
In office
7 December 1974 – 25 August 1992
Preceded byBill Longeran
Succeeded bySeat abolished
Personal details
Born
Robert Carl Katter

(1945-05-22) 22 May 1945 (age 79)
Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia
Political partyAustralian (since 2011)
Other political
affiliations		National (until 2001)
Independent (2001–2011)
Spouse
Susan O'Rourke
​
(m. 1970)​
RelationsCarl Katter (brother)
Alex Douglas (nephew)
See Katter family
Children5; including Robbie
Parent(s)Bob Katter Sr.
Mabel Horn
Residence(s)Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia
EducationMount Carmel College
St. Columba Catholic College
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
OccupationUnion delegate
(Australian Workers' Union)
Mining executive
(Self-employed)
ProfessionTrade unionist
Businessman
Politician
Websitewww.bobkatter.com.au
Military service
AllegianceCommonweath of Australia
Branch/serviceAustralian Army Reserve
Years of service1964–1972[1]
Rank Second Lieutenant
Unit49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment

Robert Carl Katter (born 22 May 1945) is an Australian politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1993. He was previously active in state politics from 1974 to 1992. Katter was a member of the National Party until 2001, when he left to sit as an independent. He formed his own party, Katter's Australian Party, in 2011.

Katter was born in Cloncurry, Queensland. His father, Bob Katter Sr., was also a politician. Katter was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the 1974 state election, representing the seat of Flinders. He was elevated to cabinet in 1983, under Joh Bjelke-Petersen, and served as a government minister until the National Party's defeat at the 1989 state election. Katter left state politics in 1992, and the following year was elected to federal parliament standing in the Division of Kennedy (his father's old seat). He resigned from the National Party in the lead-up to the 2001 federal election, and has since been re-elected four more times as an independent and twice for his own party. Katter is known for his social conservatism, and is frequently described as a "maverick" by the media. His son, Robbie Katter, is a state MP in Queensland, the third generation of the family to serve in parliament.[2]

Early career and family background

Katter (left) at a Queensland Day ceremony with Mike Reynolds (right) c. 1986.

Katter was born in Cloncurry, Queensland, the son of Robert Carl Katter Sr., the member for Kennedy from 1966 to 1990, and his wife, Mabel. He was raised Catholic, and is descended from the Maronite Christian community of Lebanon.[3] Katter's paternal grandfather, Carl Katter, was a Lebanese immigrant; his other grandparents were Australian.[4][5] Despite his family history, Katter regards defining his grandfather as Lebanese as a racist slander.[6]

His father, Bob Katter Sr., ran a clothing store and a picture theatre in Cloncurry in 1942 and was a pioneer for the rights of the Indigenous community – taking down a barrier separating the whites from the blacks and giving Aboriginal station hands store credit for boots and clothes for station hand work. Bob Katter Jr. was an investor in cattle and mining interests before entering politics via the Queensland state parliament in 1974.[citation needed]

Katter attended the University of Queensland, where he studied law, but later dropped out without graduating. While at university, Katter ran for the student union and was President of the University Law Society. He served in the Citizens Military Forces, reaching the rank of second lieutenant.[2]

During their 1964 Australian tour, The Beatles were pelted by eggs from some unknown assailants. Katter, then a university student, later came forward and admitted his involvement.[7]

His son Robert III ("Robbie") won the seat of Mount Isa in the 2012 Queensland state election.

Political career

Katter's father was a member of the Australian Labor Party until 1957, when he left during the Labor split of that year and joined the Liberal Party. He later joined the Country Party, now the National Party. The younger Katter was a Country Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland from 1974–92, representing Flinders in central Queensland. He was Minister for Northern Development and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs from 1983–87, Minister for Northern Development, Community Services and Ethnic Affairs from 1987–89, Minister for Community Services and Ethnic Affairs in 1989, Minister for Mines and Energy in 1989, and Minister for Northern and Regional Development for a brief time in 1989 until the Nationals were defeated in that year's election.[2]

While in the Queensland Parliament, Katter junior was a strong supporter of Premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen, though he remained in cabinet under Mike Ahern and Russell Cooper after Bjelke-Petersen was ousted in a 1987 party room revolt.[8]

Katter did not run for re-election to state Parliament in 1992 as Flinders was abolished at that election and he had decided to transfer to federal politics. He ran as the National candidate in his father's former seat of Kennedy, facing his father's successor, Labor's Rob Hulls. Despite name recognition, Katter trailed Hulls for most of the night. On the eighth count, a Liberal candidate's preferences flowed overwhelmingly to Katter, allowing him to defeat Hulls by 4,000 votes.[9] He would not face another contest nearly that close for two decades.

Katter was re-elected with a large swing in 1996, and was re-elected almost as easily in 1998.[10] However, when he transferred to federal politics, he found himself increasingly out of sympathy with the federal Liberal and National parties on economic and social issues.[citation needed] In 2001, he resigned from the National Party and easily retained his seat as an independent at the general elections of 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2010, each time ending up with a percentage vote in the high sixties after preferences were distributed.[11][12][13][14]

On 5 June 2011, Katter launched a new political party, Katter's Australian Party, which he said would "unashamedly represent agriculture".[15] He made headlines after singing to his party's candidates during a meeting on 17 October 2011, saying it was his "election jingle".[16]

In the 2013 election, however, Katter faced his first serious contest since his initial run for Kennedy in 1993. He had gone into the election holding the seat with a majority of 18 percent, making it the second-safest seat in Australia. However, reportedly due to anger at his decision to direct Senate preferences to Labor, he suffered a primary-vote swing of over 17 points. In the end, Katter was re-elected on Labor preferences, suffering a two-party swing of 16 points to the Liberal National Party.[17][18]

In the 2016 election, however, Katter retained his seat of Kennedy, with an increased swing of 8.93% towards him.[19]

On 15 August 2017 Katter announced that the Turnbull Government could not take his support for granted in the wake of the 2017 Australian parliamentary eligibility crisis, which ensued over concerns that several MPs held dual citizenship and thus may be constitutionally ineligible to serve in Parliament. Katter said that if one of the affected MPs, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, loses his seat, the Coalition could not count on his support for confidence and supply.[20]

Political views

Katter is known as an unabashed social conservative. On economic issues, like his father, Katter retains elements of 1950s Labor policy, including opposition to privatisation and economic deregulation. Katter is firmly in support of indigenous labour being used to build indigenous housing.

In 1997, Katter advocated changing the Child Support Scheme to lessen the financial maintenance obligations for non-custodial parents.

An opponent of the tougher gun control laws introduced in the wake of the 1996 massacre in Port Arthur, Tasmania, Katter was accused in 2001 of signing a petition promoted by the Citizens Electoral Council (CEC), an organisation that claims the Port Arthur massacre was a conspiracy.[21]

He has a complicated approach to climate change. He has opposed enacting legislation to control emissions.[22] However he advocates for measures that reduce carbon footprints.[23]

Katter has supported ethanol fuel subsidies, is against the importation of bananas into Australia, and wants to smash the supermarket duopoly of Coles and Woolworths.[24]

In the aftermath of the 2010 federal election, Katter offered a range of views on the way forward for a minority government with the support of three former members of the National Party, Tony Windsor, Rob Oakeshott and himself, who were all re-elected as independent members of parliament from rural electorates.[25] He presented a document titled 20 points and asked the major parties to respond before deciding which party he would support.[26] The sobriquet 'Mad Katter' was coined by the media to describe Katter and his ideas.[27][28][29]

On 7 September 2010, Katter announced his support for a Liberal/National Party coalition minority government.[30]

In November 1989, Katter claimed there were almost no homosexuals in North Queensland. He promised to walk backwards from Bourke if they represented more than 0.001 percent of the population.[31][32] Katter voted against the Human Rights (Sexual Conduct) Act, 1994 (Cth), which decriminalised homosexuality in Tasmania.[33] He does not support same-sex marriage.[34] His response to the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey result went viral, as Katter found the issue of crocodiles killing people in North Queensland more pressing.[35]

In December 2017, Katter was one of only four members of the House of Representatives to oppose the Marriage Amendment (Definition and Religious Freedoms) Bill 2017 legalising same-sex marriage in Australia.[36]

Bibliography

  • Bob Katter, An Incredible Race of People: A Passionate History of Australia (Millers Point, New South Wales: Murdoch Books Australia, 2012).

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Hon. (Bob) Robert Carl Katter". Who's Who in Australia Online. ConnectWeb. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "The Hon Bob Katter MP, Member for Kennedy, Queensland". Australian Parliament House website. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 30 June 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Fitzgerald, Ross (24 August 2010). "Bob Katter plays hard in crusade for the bush". The Australian. Archived from the original on 5 November 2010. Retrieved 30 October 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Who do they think they are? – Sydney Morning Herald Archived 24 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Jones, Barry (8 May 1990). "Death of Hon R.C. Katter". Hansard. Parliament of Australia. Archived from the original on 3 July 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Bob Katter defends 'magnificent' Anning speech despite criticism". SBS News. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  7. ^ Townsend, Ian (30 June 2004). "I am the egg man: Katter". The World Today. Australia: ABC Radio. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Chandler, Jo (28 August 2010). "Big mouth will need to do some fast talking if he backs Labor". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 31 August 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  9. ^ "Division of Bowman". Federal election, 1993. Adam Carr. 13 March 1993. Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ Adam, Carr. "1998 Qld House of Representatives Results". Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ Adam, Carr. "2001 Qld House of Representatives Results". Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ Adam, Carr. "2004 Qld House of Representatives Results". Archived from the original on 26 August 2015. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Adam, Carr. "2007 Qld House of Representatives Results". Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Adam, Carr. "2010 Qld House of Representatives Results". Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Marszalek, Jessica (5 June 2011). "Katter's party to 'unashamedly represent agriculture'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 8 June 2011. Retrieved 14 June 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ "Katter puts the fun into party briefing". Herald Sun. AAP. 17 October 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
  17. ^ ABC.net.au Archived 9 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Katter in clear" Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, northweststar.com.au; accessed 18 May 2017.
  19. ^ 26. "Kennedy, QLD". Australian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 19 July 2017. Retrieved 19 July 2017. {{cite web}}: |last= has numeric name (help); Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Bickers, Claire; Le Messurier, Danielle (15 August 2017). "Katter refuses to guarantee support". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia Network. Archived from the original on 21 August 2017. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "Katter accused of promoting Port Arthur massacre conspiracy theory". ABC News. Australia. 20 June 2001. Archived from the original on 19 July 2001. Retrieved 25 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Katter throws crocs into climate debate". ABC News. Australia. 12 August 2009. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Katter's Australian Party (25 August 2011). "Another milestone for clean energy corridor". Australia. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ Harvey, Michael (23 August 2010). "Six men who could hold the key to Australia's government". Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Foley, Meraiah (25 August 2010). "Rural Lawmakers Hold Key in Australian Election". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Rodgers, Emma (3 September 2010). "'Potent' Katter's arm twisted by Rudd". ABC News. Australia. Archived from the original on 3 August 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Chvastek, Nicole (25 August 2010). "The Mad Katter .. and the Frankston Eviction Debacle". ABC Radio. Australia. Archived from the original on 6 April 2012. Retrieved 27 August 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Birmingham, John (24 August 2010). "The joys and pains of a well hung parliament". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Lewis, Steven; Ironside, Robyn (25 August 2010). "Mad Katter denies kill threat". The Advertiser. Australia. Archived from the original on 27 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Saulwick, Jacob; Davis, Mark. "Katter supports Abbott". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  31. ^ Seccombe, Mike (4 March 1994). "Bottom Line For Katter". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 2. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Wright, Tony (24 August 2011). "No gays, Bob? Try closer to home". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  33. ^ Roberts, Greg (1 April 2000). "Katter-brained". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 42.
  34. ^ "Gay marriage ridicule 'damages youths'". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ "Bob Katter's Rant About Same Sex Marriage And Crocodile Attacks Is Going Viral". Triple M. 20 November 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ "House of Representatives Hansard THURSDAY, 7 DECEMBER 2017". Retrieved 8 December 2017.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bob Katter.
Parliament of Queensland
Preceded by Member for Flinders
1974 – 1992 		District abolished
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Northern Development and Aboriginal and Island Affairs
1983 – 1986 		Succeeded by
Himself
Vacant
Title next held by
Anne Warner
as Minister for Aboriginal and Islander Affairs
Preceded by
Himself
 Minister for Northern Development and Community Services
1986 – 1987 		Succeeded by
Himself
Preceded byas Minister for Community Services
Preceded by
Himself
 Minister for Northern Development, Community Services and Ethnic Affairs
1987 – 1989 		Succeeded by
Himself
Preceded byas Minister for Ethnic Affairs Succeeded byas Minister for Northern Development
Preceded by
Himself
 Minister for Community Services and Ethnic Affairs
1989 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Mines and Energy
1989 		Succeeded byas Minister for Mines
Succeeded byas Minister for Energy
Preceded by Minister for Northern and Regional Development
1989 		Succeeded byas Minister for Regional Development
Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Member for Kennedy
1993–present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Katter&oldid=855042382"