STATE member for Mount Isa Rob Katter has slammed a Senate inquiry that knocked back the idea of a rural bank to help revive the struggling cattle industry.
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The outcome of the inquiry comes as members of the Federal Coalition start talking about getting drought assistance. Mr Katter said it was hypocritical after the party voted down the Australian Reconstruction and Development Board (ARDB) in Parliament.
“Hypocrisy knows no bounds,” he said.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said recently there was no easy answer to the drought problem, but insists he is working on a solution and the ‘‘best way forward’’ with MPs whose electorates have been badly affected.
‘‘I agreed that we would work on some local projects that would be important signs of faith by our country in these parts of Australia,’’ he said.
Mr Katter was pleased Coalition members were commenting on the rural debt crisis but was puzzled as to why the ARDB was voted down.
“It is commendable that they are finally speaking up for the graziers in their electorates, but at the same time it’s enormous hypocrisy for members of the Federal Coalition to now talk about getting drought assistance after their own party just voted down the ARDB bill in Parliament,” he said.
“The ARDB bill is a financial instrument that is desperately needed to stop the spiraling rural debt crippling a large portion of the cattle industry.
‘‘It has wide industry support and the support of peak lobby groups and has in the past had support from both sides of politics.
“The Nationals on their own won’t support it now as it would require them to grow a backbone and stand up to the city-based Liberals who abhor any form of industry support and are gladly overseeing the decline of agriculture in Australia.”
Mr Katter said the National MPs were not doing their job. “They need to either step up to the plate by standing up to their colleagues or back out of the Coalition.
“It is nothing short of cruel to keep mouthing platitudes to people on the land but failing to stand up when it really counts.’’
He said the KAP would be doing everything within its power with the government in Queensland and already had a commitment from the LNP in Queensland to deliver a reconstruction board.
“We are hopeful of delivering this with the intention of not only stimulating the cattle industry but also the towns that are built around it.” Mr Katter paid tribute to his father, Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter, who had introduced a similar bill in the lower house, and to Senators Nick Xenophon and John Madigan who instigated the Senate inquiry into ARDB legislation.
