It looks like the mountain is coming to Mohammad, as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull prepares to fly to Queensland today to meet with Bob Katter.
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As the election result nears its conclusion, the LNP is inching towards minority government with a likely 73 or 74 seats, just short of a majority in the 150-seat parliament.
That means they will need to negotiate with the likely five elected independent or minor party candidates, including Mr Katter.
Mr Katter is normally talkative but for once is keeping mum and has been holed up in his Charters Towers compound and has not answered queries from media in the last 24 hours.
However he is believed to be working on a set of demands he will present to Mr Turnbull when they meet today.
Mr Katter is also believed to have had discussions with the other cross-benchers.
The four other cross-benchers are Andrew Wilkie (Ind), Rebekha Sharkie (NXT), Cathy McGowan (Ind) and Adam Bandt (Greens).
Mr Katter has held Kennedy since 1993 and was a former National Party member who left the party in 2001.
Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has already started the wooing saying the Coalition had “a lot in common” with Mr Katter.
However the government may baulk at Mr Katter’s more protectionist demands.
All will be revealed in the next 24 hours.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
