Bob Katter on Taking Down Prime Ministers, 50 years in politics & Australia Selling Itself Out
3/31/20261 hr 24 min
Bob Katter is one of Australia's longest-serving politician with 51 years in parliament and one of the most recognisable figures in the country.
In this conversation, Katter reveals how he brought down Prime Minister Julia Gillard over the live cattle export ban, explains why he left the National Party, Australia's problem with selling out, rise of One Nation and details the structural collapse he's witnessed across rural Australia. He discusses the deregulation that decimated sugar, dairy, tobacco and other agricultural sectors, and why he believes politicians today simply won't govern.
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First 90 secondsMark Bouris· Host0:00
Bob Katter, welcome to Straight Talk, mate.
Bob Katter· Guest0:01
You got a pretty big reputation these days.
Mark Bouris· Host0:04
You have too.
Bob Katter· Guest0:04
[laughs] I, I'm sacrificing a day in Parliament. This is a- Oh, my God ... to come here, you know.
Mark Bouris· Host0:09
Thank you.
Bob Katter· Guest0:09
I mean, heavens.
Mark Bouris· Host0:10
Well, well, I- What a sacrifice ... I, it is a sacrifice, and I, and I, by the way, I'm much appreciative, and I'm, I'm... Hopefully we get on camera your hat. I mean, I have to tell everybody that as, as he walked up, so many people, there's a couple tradies out the front door here recognize him, young blokes. Um, I don't know if it's the hat that's recognizable or the, the gait on him, the swagger, but they recognize him and, uh, you know, people put their hand out to shake his hand. And I was sitting with my son, and the, and my son, my oldest boy, who's 45, he said, "Dad, there's Bob Katter." And, um, so one of the most recognizable politicians in Australia. And part of the reason for that, Bob, is that y- I think you've been in parliament maybe 50 years.
Bob Katter· Guest0:48
50, uh, 51 years.
Mark Bouris· Host0:50
51 years a parliamentary- That is a reflection upon my intelligence.
Bob Katter· Guest0:54
When I went in there, I owned 250,000 acres, good country up in the Gulf. Um, didn't owe any money on it. I was negotiating 20 million for my own mining companies, 20 million then money.
Mark Bouris· Host1:06
Wow.
Bob Katter· Guest1:07
Look at me now. Like my wife said, "You'll do a will." [laughs] So I have. I gave all my earthly possessions to my son, my six rifles. [laughs] That's all I own, six rifles.
Mark Bouris· Host1:21
So where, where is your area?
Bob Katter· Guest1:22
Um, well, you know, my homeland is Cloncurry, Mount Isa, and, you know, as I say, family went there. Well, I'm living in Charters