Queensland Senator Fraser Anning has joined the Katter’s Australian Party giving the KAP a vote in the Senate to go with their vote of Bob Katter in the lower house.
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The pair made the announcement on the ABC’s 7:30 program on Monday night and Mr Katter, federal member for Kennedy, said their affiliation spanned generations.
“Both our families were from Charters Towers before there was a Charters Towers. I have known Fraser a long time,” Mr Katter said.
“Fraser is about development. I walked into his office and he was working on the revised Bradfield Scheme; so we were instantly blood brothers.”
Mr Katter said they shared concerns on immigration.
“We know that if the country keeps bringing in 643,000 visa entrants then we will be bankrupt and there will be no jobs for Australians,” he said.
“It will push people onto welfare and we need to be able to support our retirees."
Pauline Hanson nominated Fraser Anning to the Senate in November 2017 after the High Court ruled One Nation’s Malcolm Roberts was ineligible due to the citizenship rules.
However they quickly fell out with Ms Hanson saying that Senator Anning had "abandoned" the party while he responded she made made his position “pretty much untenable with her conditions.”
Since then he has sat as an independent.
Senator Anning says the KAP’s vision aligns with his own and the decision came down to giving regional Queensland the strongest voice.
”KAP represents the traditional Australian values, commitment to infrastructure development and balanced, fiscally responsible government that I have supported since being sworn in,” Senator Anning said.
“I have known Bob for almost 40 years and we have a lot in common both personally and politically. Bob is the last cabinet minister from Sir Joh’s government still in office and founded KAP to carry on the late, Sir Joh’s legacy. As an old time National, KAP was the obvious home for me.”
Senator Anning said Queensland was in terrible shape.
“For 30 years there has been no real infrastructure investment other than Labor vanity projects in the South East corner,” he said.
“As a Queensland Senator I am keen to fight and campaign for federal funds to allow for balanced development throughout the state.”
KAP party president Shane Paulger says Senator Anning’s decision to join the KAP is a reflection of the Party’s integrity and stability and their reputation for putting regional Australia first.
“Fraser’s decision to join KAP goes beyond an alignment of policy objectives; it reflects the effort of all our members and staff who have built a stable organisation on shared values and principles,” Mr Paulger said.
“Having Fraser on board is recognition of the Party’s integrity and it undoubtedly strengthens our position as the true advocates for regional Australia”
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.
