KATTER ACCUSED OF `BIG TALK
26.08.2010
By: Tony Koch,
THE country independents have been divided in their support for Labor since the 2007 poll, parliamentary records show.
Rob Oakeshott has been the biggest backer of the ALP, voting with the Rudd and Gillard governments in 55 per cent of all the divisions he has participated in since becoming an MP after a September 2008 by-election. His crossbench colleagues have tended to side more with the Coalition.
Tony Windsor voted with Labor 41 per cent of the time, while Bob Katter backed the government in just 30 per cent of the divisions he attended.
The figures reflect the range of parliamentary votes, covering procedural matters as well as divisions on bills and amendments, censure motions, dissents from the Speaker's ruling, shutting down debates and suspensions of MPs.
The trio has not participated in a string of divisions.
Mr Oakeshott has been absent from 71 of the 237 divisions held since he became an MP.
Mr Windsor has missed 158 of the 345 divisions since the 2007 election and Mr Katter, who can be a rare sight in the House of Representatives chamber, 264.
Mr Katter complained of the lack of opportunities for backbenchers to participate in parliament when all three spoke at the National Press Club yesterday.
The House of Representatives Statistical Digest shows that just 15 per cent of the almost 2225 hours the last parliament was in session were devoted to private members' business or given over to opportunities for backbenchers.
But Mr Katter's claims to having spent a lifetime providing for the needs of north Queenslanders received a setback yesterday when the Mayor of the Charters Towers Regional Council accused him of being ``big talk and no delivery''.
Local cattle grazier Ben Kalcott has been a councillor for 29 years and mayor for the past six.
He has known Mr Katter for 50 years and has voted for him at past Queensland and federal elections.
But Mr Kalcott, who has never been a member of any political party, said Mr Katter ``carries on, but just frightens industries away rather than attracting them here''.
``As a council, we don't approach him for anything.'' he said.
Mr Kalcott said he would prefer Mr Katter to concentrate on ensuring Australia had stable government instead of ``jumping up and gaining things for the electorate of Kennedy''.
``If he negotiates special deals for this region to which we are not entitled, a succeeding government will ensure we don't get anything for 20 years, and we don't want that to happen,'' he said.
``He has the opportunity to be absolutely responsible and make things work for the whole of Australia, and he should concentrate on doing just that.''
