General News
7 May, 2025
12th victory for ‘King of Kennedy’
BOB Katter has swept to his 12th victory, easily beating his opposition to be the Federal Member for Kennedy for the next three years.
The maverick politician has been the federal representative for Kennedy since 1995 and has no plans to step away from politics anytime soon, declaring he’ll die in the job.
Seven candidates lined up to try to topple the “King of Kennedy”, who, as of 10am Monday, had secured 65.6% of the vote (two candidate preferred), with the LNP’s Annette Swaine scoring closest to Mr Katter, with 34%.
After the election, a humbled Mr Katter thanked his supporters, his family and those who volunteer to spread his message.
“Elections aren’t won by blokes in suits. They’re won on the backs of the people who stand out in the sun and the rain, handing out how-to-vote cards for days on end,” he said.
“So, this victory belongs to them. God bless every one of you. I can’t thank you enough.
“The same goes for my wife Susie, my five children, and even my grandchildren, who have worked tirelessly throughout this campaign to make so much of it happen.
“I certainly couldn’t have done this without them.”
He says the people of his electorate continue to vote for him because the major parties have failed to support the region.
“I didn’t get re-elected because I’m some sort of outstanding character. I’m just a boy from Cloncurry.
“More members of parliament might get similar results if they actually served their electorates and listened to the people every once in a while, and not some party room in Brisbane or Canberra.
“North Queenslanders are fed up with being called resilient. We’re fed up with getting scraps while Brisbane gets its pleasure palaces, grand roads, rail and other infrastructure.
“The people of Kennedy know the major parties aren’t fighting for them. If you ignore the North, if you ignore the bush, you do it at your own peril.
“The people are rising up in righteous anger, and I don’t blame them one bit.”.
In Leichhardt, Labor’s Matt Smith will become the new member, with LNP newcomer Jeremy Neal unable to secure the seat after Warren Entsch retired.
Mr Neal went the way of many other LNP candidates and current members who became victims of a massive swing against Peter Dutton’s party. The Opposition Leader lost his own seat of Dickson, forcing the Liberals to have to decide on a new leader.
