Snake Gully Influence in Queensland Politics
Three serious looking Katter's Australian Party hombres, Big Daddy Bob Katter (in Marlboro Country hat and sunnies, a grim High Noon shootout expression on his face ) , his son , Bob ( with tie ) , and former law officer , Shane Knuth, make life tough for the minority Palaszczuk ALP government in Queensland which hangs on by a nylon thread .
Because of this precarious position, the ALP often has long discussions with the only two KAP members in Queensland state politics-Shane Knuth and Bob Katter Junior -on various matters , seeking their support .
However , just when it looks as if the duo agree on an issue , their stance changes overnight because in the morning Katter the younger announces he has discussed the issue with his dad and he is not agreeable, not happy .
This situation has been labelled as the Dad and Dave of Snake Gully influence on Queensland politics. Said one exasperated pollie in Brisbane : "We know who Dad and Dave are , but will there be a Mabel ?" Good question, as Joy Marriott , one of the Knitting Nannas , a protest group which campaigned against coal seam gas and other exploration and mining threats to land and water , is standing for KAP as a Senate candidate in Queensland . Describing herself as an "ethical green" , commenting on proposed new land clearing regulations , she said : "Until we can work out how we're going to grow carrots or produce in the fork of a tree , clearing land is essential for farmers."
She recently claimed at a media conference that Cairns federal government pollie Warren Entsch told her to f**k off at a forum on the proposed new Queensland land management laws . He laughed off the matter and claimed she had "stalked him " with flyers . Snake Gully sure has changed.
She recently claimed at a media conference that Cairns federal government pollie Warren Entsch told her to f**k off at a forum on the proposed new Queensland land management laws . He laughed off the matter and claimed she had "stalked him " with flyers . Snake Gully sure has changed.
Apart from being difficult to deal with , believing they virtually have the government at the point of a gun because of the numbers , the KAP two play hardball . As well as making life difficult for the ALP, the KAP two expressed disappointment at the successful challenge to the leadership of the LNP leader Lawrence Springborg as they had an agreement with him about their place in a change of government , and did not like the replacement , Tim Nicholls , treasurer in the Newman government.
It is irksome that the only KAP member in the House of Representatives, the Sombrero Kid, in effect calls the shots in the Queensland parliament .This has caused impolite muttering in Brisbane , on both sides , about the "Mad Katters" .
Recently, one of this blog's roving rural reporters , running about on the Atherton Tablelands , spotted Katter senior , the Member for Kennedy , neatly kitted out , striding along at the large Yungaburra market , above , followed by Shane Knuth, the latter armed with a twisted potato on a stick .
Distracted by stalls offering books , our reporter lost track of the Katter deux and the spud on a stick when his attention was grabbed by a book on Hitler's personal library, which he bought ; there are two good bookshops in the town .
The KAPs in cowboy hats had seemingly disappeared...Searching for them in the large crowd , our scribe spotted a place where they could be hiding -the nearby Mad Hatterz Whimsical Tea House .
The KAPs in cowboy hats had seemingly disappeared...Searching for them in the large crowd , our scribe spotted a place where they could be hiding -the nearby Mad Hatterz Whimsical Tea House .
Peering through the windows like a thirsty March Hare , no sign of the KAP duo could be seen , just happy people swilling tea, so he headed for the 1910 built Yungaburra Hotel , also known as the Lake Eacham Hotel , for light refreshments and a look at the interesting Federation architecture interior features made from local timber, there being a large street painting nearby depicting tree felling .
In a surprise development, a Townsville economist , Colin Dwyer who had unsuccessfully stood for the LNP in a Queensland state election , announced he would saddle up for KAP in the federal seat of Herbert against Ewen Jones (LNP).
His entry was announced at a media conference where Dwyer sounded like the angry TV station news anchor in Network , Australia's own Peter Finch , the academy award winning l976 movie, in which he famously urged viewers (couch potatoes ) to get up , go to windows , stick out their heads and shout out that they are mad as hell about the state of things and are not going to take it any longer .
(This scenario , of course , is repeated in our own ABC TV Mad as Hell series anchored by oughta be certified and gonged Shaun Micallef.
In print , on TV and over the radio , Dwyer, obviously mad with the LNP , spread the message that he is standing because he is very angry about what has happened to the Townsville economy and that the city needs a voice in Canberra , not Canberra's voice in Townsville .
STOP (SHOCK ) PRESS : KAP expressed support for the Queensland budget because of provisions for regional parts of the state .
(This scenario , of course , is repeated in our own ABC TV Mad as Hell series anchored by oughta be certified and gonged Shaun Micallef.
In print , on TV and over the radio , Dwyer, obviously mad with the LNP , spread the message that he is standing because he is very angry about what has happened to the Townsville economy and that the city needs a voice in Canberra , not Canberra's voice in Townsville .
This expression of anger and the need for a voice in the holy city was repeated in campaign adverts , and other media interviews . It could be prompted by the fact that during one of the Question Time sessions in the House of Representatives , shortly before the double dissolution election was called , Bob Katter senior got up and did not seem to be seeking information , more like making a rant. The government responded by saying Katter had been in parliament long enough he should know how to word a question.
STOP (SHOCK ) PRESS : KAP expressed support for the Queensland budget because of provisions for regional parts of the state .
