Bob Katter has announced he will be stepping down as leader of the Katter’s Australian Party after close to a decade in the role.
The decision to step down and have his son, Robbie replace him, comes ahead of the Queensland state election in October, where the KLP is aiming to increase its number of seats in parliament from three.
Robbie Katter has been leading the party’s state branch in Queensland, while his father attended to business in the federal parliament and said while it wasn’t an easy decision, it was one the party agreed was necessary moving forward.
“This is not a decision dad and I made over a cup of coffee - he'd probably just want to stay there forever I suppose, but the laws of nature take place,” he said.
Queensland MP Robbie Katter to take over KLP leadership. (AAP) Source: AAP
"I think we can still benefit from his colourful persona, but when it comes to direction we can keep focused."
The soon to be leader said KLP voters shouldn’t be concerned by the change as the party’s policy will remain virtually the same, but people should expect a different leadership style.
"If you're comparing me to my father, I tend to sit back a bit more and observe – (I am) more cautious and balanced than Dad,” he said.
While Bob Katter is passing on the leadership title he has made it clear he has no intention of stepping away from politics and will be re-contesting his seat of Kennedy in the next federal election.
Independent MP Bob Katter says it is "outrageous" that the Indigenous flag can be owned by a private company. Source: AAP
“I assure you, I ain’t leaving the arena and I’m certainly not handing them my sword and shield over either,” he said.
“I desperately need the time to get these dams built and to get at the throats of enemies - the free marketeers and the lily-pad left, and I simply can’t do that while I have to do the leadership role.”
Bob Katter set up the Katter Australia Party in 2011.
