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October 30th, 2011 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Independent MP Bob Katter’s claims that his political grouping may poach four or five more Queensland Liberal National Party members after the defection of one of their colleagues is just “bravado”, LNP leader Campbell Newman says.
State MP Shane Knuth announced on Sunday he had joined Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) because he could no longer represent his electorate of Dalrymple in North Queensland under his old mud-flinging, Liberal-led party.
Mr Knuth said the LNP merger had been a Liberal takeover that had been “disastrous” for regional representation, with ex-National MPs now having no say.
He also cited standover tactics by state secretary Barry O’Sullivan – such as grilling LNP candidates and keeping secret files on Labor MPs that included information such as sexual behaviour – as having influenced his decision.
And he was upset at having to vote along party lines to support the coal seam gas (CSG) industry when he passionately believed a moratorium was required.
Mr Knuth said there was obvious discontent within the LNP and he hoped his move would encourage others to switch to the KAP.
Meanwhile, Mr Katter told AAP there was “absolutely no doubt” that other “ostracised, isolated and bullied” country MPs would follow Mr Knuth, with discussions already under way.
“But I’ve made it pretty clear from my side there would only be four or five of them that we’d be interested in,” Mr Katter said.
“People that have sold their souls again and again and again and never put up any resistance are the last people we’d want.”
Mr Katter said country MPs were upset at issues like being forced to support CSG.
“They are blatantly seen to be spitting on their own electorates and looking after the interests of foreign corporations to the detriment of the country … and yet they’re forced to vote for it,” he said.
LNP leader Campbell Newman said Mr Knuth’s defection was a tough day in his leadership as it would help Labor and could even result in a hung parliament.
But Mr Newman said he was confident no more of his team would be tempted by Mr Katter.
On Mr Katter’s claims that the KAP is sweet-talking MPs, Mr Newman said: “Good luck to him. We’ll see how he goes.
“It’s just the bravado we’ve heard from him over the last few months.”
Mr Newman denied there was a divide in the LNP, deteriorating discipline and that Liberal MPs were calling the shots.
It was more important to reward talent in his shadow cabinet than ensure rural representation, he said.
“People have to have the goods,” Mr Newman said.
Party members voiced their disappointment at Sunday’s LNP state council on the Gold Coast.
The Nationals’ federal leader Warren Truss told AAP: “People in regional Australia and regional Queensland suffer when their voice is divided in parliaments, both state and federal.”
National Party senator Barnaby Joyce told delegates MPs needed to stick to their guns.
“We can’t have bolters, it just doesn’t work like that,” Senator Joyce said.
“There is no outcome from outside the room. You have to stay in the room and accept the barbs that are thrown at you.”
But Mr Knuth said the KAP truly represented voters by allowing conscience votes.
It was also better to “outwit your opposition with better policy and clever politics”, he said in reference to the revelation of dirty practices by the LNP.
“You don’t throw mud,” he said.
Mr Knuth will join KAP state leader and Beaudesert MP Aidan McLindon, who quit the LNP last year with the now independent Burnett MP Rob Messenger.
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