Katter eyes expansion

MAVERICK MP Bob Katter plans to spread his political tentacles beyond Queensland’s borders.

Bob Katter

MAVERICK MP Bob Katter plans to spread his political tentacles beyond Queensland’s borders.

The federal member for Kennedy in Queensland’s north confirmed on Monday his Katter’s Australian Party would field lower house and Senate candidates in his home state at the next national poll, which at this stage is likely to be held towards the end of next year.

But he also told reporters in Brisbane the party, formed on June 3 last year, was in “delicate negotiations with several organisations” in three other states, although he declined to reveal which states or organisations.

The party has called for expressions of interest as it begins the process of selecting candidates in Queensland to take on what Mr Katter likes to call the “Liberal Party/ALP junta”.

Mr Katter said his party would focus on a large number of seats as it set out to “change the direction of government in Australia”.

“We’re going to win control of the state and nation,” Mr Katter told Sky news in reference to his political idol Ted Theodore – a Labor Party Queensland premier and federal treasurer early last century.

He said winning control of the Senate was within the party’s reach.

“But our ambitions are much greater than that,” he said.

At the Queensland election in March KAP succeeded in winning two seats, including Mr Katter’s son Rob Jnr, who won the seat of Mount Isa, which his father once held.

Mr Katter said analysis commissioned by the party showed it had been robbed of a significant number of primary votes in the March election after his name was left off ballot papers.

The Queensland Electoral Commission used the abbreviated Australian Party, which the party registered as its shortened name. The party lost a Supreme Court appeal to have the ballot papers destroyed and new versions printed.

“We stand to make a much stronger showing than at the Queensland election where we polled over 15% in 33 seats,” Mr Katter said.

“This time we will have the party’s full name on the ballot paper and have a preferential voting system.

“I can also reveal today that detailed analysis commissioned by the Party shows that we were cheated out of 8.5% of the primary vote because we were not allowed to have our full party name on the ballot paper.”

KAP also announced on Monday its former Queensland leader Aidan McLindon had been appointed state director.

Views: 0

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress | Designed by: Premium WordPress Themes | Thanks to Themes Gallery, Bromoney and Wordpress Themes