Biography

Parliamentary service

• State: Elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Flinders, 1974. Retired prior to general elections 1992.
• Federal: Elected to the House of Representatives for Kennedy, Queensland, 1993. Re-elected 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019 and 2022.

Committee service

• House of Representatives Standing: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 29.5.1996 to 7.8.2001; Primary Industries, Resources and Rural and Regional Affairs served from 29.9.1997 to 31.8.1998; Employment, Education and Workplace Relations served from 8.12.1998 to 1.6.2000; Primary Industries and Regional Services served from 8.12.1998 to 7.8.2001; Industry and Resources served from 2.12.2004 to 17.10.2007; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs served from 11.3.2008 to 23.11.2009

Parliamentary party positions

• Independent. Served: 08.07.2001 to 27.09.2011
• Katter's Australian Party. Served: 27.09.2011 to present
• National Party of Australia. Served: 13.03.1993 to 08.07.2001
• National Party Spokesman on Defence and Northern Development from 30.4.1987 to 6.8.1987.

Party positions

• President of the Young Nationals local branch.
• Delegate to the National Party Central Council.
• Chair of the National Party Water Resources Committee (Qld).
• Delegate to the National Party State Conference from 1968 to 1973.

Personal

• Born: 22.5.1945, Cloncurry, Australia
• Gender: Male
• Marital Status: Married

Qualifications and occupation before entering Federal Parliament

• Labourer.
• Insurance, small mining and cattle interests.

State/Territory Government service

• Elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Flinders, 1974. Retired prior to general elections 1992.
• Minister for Northern Development and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs from 7.11.1983 to 6.2.1986.
• Minister for Northern Development, Community Services and Ethnic Affairs from 9.12.1987 to 19.1.1989.
• Minister for Community Services and Ethnic Affairs from 19.1.1989 to 28.8.1989.
• Minister for Mines and Energy from 25.9.1989 to 7.12.1989.
• Minister for Northern and Regional Development from 25.9.1989 to 7.12.1989.

Military Service

• Second Lieutenant, CMF.

Electorate

• Name: Kennedy
• Location: The Division of Kennedy consists of: Boulia Shire Council, Burke Shire Council, Cassowary Coast Regional Council, Charters Towers Regional Shire Council, Cloncurry Shire Council, Croydon Shire Council, Doomadgee Aboriginal Shire Council, Etheridge Shire Council, Flinders Shire Council, McKinlay Shire Council, Mornington Shire Council, Mt Isa City Council, Richmond Shire Council, Tablelands Regional Council, Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council, part of the Burdekin Shire Council, part of the Cairns Regional Council, part of the Carpentaria Shire Council, part of the Hinchinbrook Shire Council, part of the Mareeba Shire Council, and part of the Townsville City Council.
• Area: 567,377 Sq km
• Electors enrolled: 107,679 (at 8.6.2019)
• Industries: Mainly primary production including grains (sorghum, sunflowers, wheat), beef cattle, cotton, coal mining, gemstones, sheep, sugar, agricultural services, copper, gold, silver, tin, lead, zinc, uranium, fishing (prawns, crabs, barramundi), marble, tobacco, fruit and vegetables, peanuts, dairy products and tourism.

Publications

• An incredible race of people: a passionate history of Australia, Murdoch Books Australia, Millers Point, NSW: 2012.
• Conversations with Bob Katter: on politics, life and the things that matter, New Holland, Chatswood, NSW: 2017.