Newsroom

July 6, 2018

See what our Members of Parliament, Senator Fraser Anning, Honourable Bob Katter, Robbie Katter, Shane Knuth and Nick Dametto got up to this week.

Senator Fraser Anning - Senator for Queensland

• Senator Anning has spent several days this week in the Gladstone region, meeting with industry leaders like Gladstone Ports Corporation chair Leo Zussino.

• The focus of the meetings has been around infrastructure such as the Gladstone to Agnes Waters road which is imperative to the regions Tourism industry and upgrading the Gladstone Port access Road.

Bob Katter, Federal Member for Kennedy

• Bob Katter was out of Canberra this week and happy to be back in God’s country - North Queensland. Bob clocked up some miles on the road again, travelling from Charters Towers to Cairns and up to Weipa to do some campaigning with KAP Federal Candidate Dan McCarthy.
• Monday, Bob was at home in Charters Towers – attending Robbie’s office opening and catching up with the crowd at the football, played at Columba Catholic College. Of course, he was on the phone to media between appointments – Cairns Post had a front page yarn on 77% of people in favour of croc culling as part of a state wide crocodile management plan. Bob didn’t shy away from sharing his opinion on the matter.
• Bob also called a spade a shovel when it came to the Government’s failure to protect the prawn industry. ABC Four Corner’s investigation that revealed white spot disease (WSD) had been detected again in Queensland supermarket green prawns. Bob has previously warned the Government that WSD could wipe out both the inshore commercial and recreational fisheries. Earlier this year Bob asked a ‘Question with Notice’ to the Minister for Agriculture re: if the Government would consider permanently suspending the importation of raw foreign prawns. This week Bob said, “And they were told again and again; it was a subject of my fury. Anyone who knew anything about it said that if you import the prawns; you will get white spot. “.
• There were also some big wins for the electorate of Kennedy. After decades of campaigning Bob Katter was stoked to hear the Clump Point Boating Infrastructure Project has been given the green light to proceed, with all necessary approvals now in place. Bob noted that he had countless people to thank for their contribution to getting the Project to this stage – members of the Federal, State and Local Governments and especially the Mission Beach community including the late and former President of the Mission Beach Boating Association, Alan Jago. Bob was also said “I must be lavish in my praise of Shane Knuth, he as a favour to me reignited the issue and got the State Government involved and then Shane became the Member for Hill and has applied enormous pressure.” .
• And in more good news, Julia Creek RSL and Atherton RSL sub-branch will both received a grant under the Armistice Centenary Grants Program (ACGP). The ACGP is for local community-based projects and activities that commemorate the end of the First World War and pay tribute to our Australian servicemen and women. The grant for the Julia Creek RSL is the most significant at this stage, with around $20,000 funding towards a symbolic ‘poppy path ‘ that will lead up to and around the existing Light Horse sculpture. In addition, a ‘Shellal mosaic’ design will make up the edging of the path.

 

Nick Dametto, State Member for Hinchinbrook

• Mingled with constituents at the Townsville Show across the weekend and Monday
• Discussed a proposal for a new boat ramp and jetty with members of the Forrest Beach Recreational Boating and Tourism Committee on Monday
• Heard from former New Zealand Prime Minister and United Nations Development Program Administrator Helen Clark at the Townsville Bulletin Business Breakfast on Tuesday
• Worked hard dealing with several constituent issues throughout the week.

 

Robbie Katter, State Member for Traeger

• This week Robbie attended his old college in Charters Towers, Columba Catholic College, as it played cost to the 2018 QISSRL Confraternity Carnival. The state-wide event brought thousands of people to the small gold mining city for a week, and Robbie was on hand to watch a few games and also volunteer behind the bar.
• On Monday, he officially celebrated the opening of his new Charters Towers electorate office (located at Shop 2, Stock Exchange Arcade, 76 Mosman Street, Charters Towers) with various members of the local community.
• On Wednesday night, Robbie hosted the second meeting as part of his plans to establish a pilot school and aero club in Mount Isa. At present, 45 adults and five children have registered their interest in the club – this is an early indication of what looks to be a very successful initiative.
• On Thursday he caught up with Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey and Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell at the MITEZ office in Mount Isa. He also had breakfast with the Minister the following day.
• He also dialled in to the third Charters Towers Flying Fox Advisory Committee meeting, which is a cross-community group established with the sole purpose of addressing the town’s ongoing bats crisis.
• On Friday, he met with QMEA students from across the state. The students presented to Robbie and Glencore mining representatives their learnings from a week-long camp in Mount Isa.

 

Shane Knuth, State Member for Hill

 

• Inspected the Malanda Millaa Millaa Road and the unacceptable damage caused to vehicles across the Tablelands and afar. I have personally spoken with Minister Mark Bailey to prioritise road upgrade tenders to locals who have an understanding of our weather conditions in the wet tropics.

• Mission Beach Clump Point Project - Hon Bob Katter MP and I have had a massive win in lobbying for the Mission Beach Safe Harbour Project. I met up with constituents at Mission Beach and has spoken with Minister Bailey and the Director-General to grant access during construction.

• Attended the Tully Debutante Ball.
• Met up with CST CEO John Russell and CST President Trevor Brady to discuss the Tablelands Community Centre in Atherton. The State Govt has committed to $1.6m toward the project if met halfway by Federal Govt. This is a big win after four years of lobbying.
• Handed Silver Certificate to Mr Giuseppe Scuderi for more than 25 years of volunteer service as a JP in Tully.
• Attended a meeting in East Palmerston regarding the issue of wild dogs.
• Attended meetings in the Atherton Hill Electorate Office.
• Out and about talking to constituents across the Tablelands and the Coast.
• Looking forward to attending the Malanda Show Parade tonight.