The member for Mount Isa Rob Katter said he was not surprised by the ALP’s success in taking government, and he is hopeful of still achieving KAP’s main priorities, but KAP support would come at a cost.
“The announcement of ALP taking government comes as no surprise and our strategy has been based heavily on this assumption from the start.
“We have had strong discussions with the ALP over the past weeks to give them an understanding of the deficit in investment in rural and regional areas that is holding back growth in the state.
“We still intend to deliver on the extension of the life of the Copper Smelter, the Hann Highway, proper Royalties to Regions and an Ethanol Industry.
“The new premier was highly interested in the policies we have been pushing and has committed to getting around the state during her term to get a better feel for our issues,” Mr Katter said.
Both ALP and LNP had acknowledged that under any future scenario of government the KAP support would be critical in providing a stable government and Mr Katter said KAP intended to make this value count for delivering investment into the regions.
“The KAP is all for supporting a stable government but this support will only come at a cost and the ALP will be held heavily to account in the early part of this term to ensure they show more commitment to rural and regional Queensland than the last LNP government made.
“There is still a cloud of uncertainty over how long the current numbers will stay where they are, pending the appeals on the Ferny Grove decision.
“Three years is a long time for a government to manage without any scandal, loss or absence of any sitting members.
“This underpins a strong reliance on, and therefore strong leverage for the cross benches.
“With the Gang of Six gone from the leadership of the LNP it keeps open the option of having them on hand if this government does not deliver to rural and regional Queensland.”