Bob Katter’s been an MP for 50 years but there is one topic he rarely talks about

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Bob Katter is about to turn 80, an age where most people are long retired. But the maverick MP, a colourful character in the federal and Queensland parliaments for more than 50 years, doe does not plan on leaving politics any time soon. Tonight’s Australian Story secured unprecedented access to Katter over the past five months filming him in Canberra, across his sprawling Queensland electorate.

Transcript

00:00I'm Bob's Chief of Staff and I've been his Chief of Staff for the last three years.

00:17Your speech is on the can itself.

00:21He makes me very stressed at times.

00:24He makes me exasperated at times.

00:29You need to start preparing now because we're going to run out of time.

00:33My sisters and I have all worked for Dad at some point or another and we call it doing time.

00:38It felt like I was a bit of a babysitter.

00:42That doesn't seem to be very healthy.

00:45I remember ringing up my sister.

00:48Oh my gosh, I've just sworn it down.

00:51Oh it's fine, you'll get used to it.

00:53He's having white bread, butter and condensed milk.

00:57Bob just does things differently to other politicians.

01:01He likes to take risks.

01:03What other people would say is acceptable socially or politically.

01:07He's willing to go out there and tap dance on that line every time.

01:10I'm a Martian astronaut, Mr Acting Speaker.

01:13He's like a nudist at a bishops conference.

01:15You know, he stands out in Federal Parliament.

01:18His language, his character, his hat.

01:22That's it.

01:23That's very ominous.

01:24Very threatening.

01:25I get embarrassed often, you know, with some of the things Bob does.

01:29The children have found it difficult having the cat a surname.

01:35And they were so happy to get married and change their name.

01:41Move it on up.

01:42Come on.

01:43No, not move backwards.

01:44When people simply ridicule him for being, you know, some Queensland hick, they do so at their peril.

01:52It would be remarkable if it all came down to Bob Catter's vote in terms of a minority government.

01:57Don't speak over me.

02:00The single vote of a figure like Catter, who, you know, is obviously such an unpredictable, mercurial sort of figure.

02:07But it's by no means impossible.

02:09Every time I've opened my mouth, you've started talking.

02:11Right?

02:12Now shut up and let me have a go.

02:14What a lot of journalists think is my peculiarities, abnormalities, are actually a pretty desperate effort to get my message across.

02:28My people are dying.

02:30Inland Australia is dying.

02:32And I'm desperate.

02:33Will you ever quit?

02:35Um, yeah.

02:37When I stopped breathing.

02:44I never quit but it gives me prayer too much.

02:46I never had long look.

02:47That's why.

02:48I never have a broken heart, I never have a broken heart.

02:50Of course there wasn't a wannabe foreshower.

02:51Once all dragons MariCap0s were available.

02:54I don't basically doubt this stuff either.

02:57I would humble myself before coming andgas his400 meters in foc.

03:01It's still a cold�y place tonight.

03:03If they're all days in paradise.

03:05So that's how it's well.

03:06Let'sacağız not!

03:07But...

03:08They're all days in神欸

03:08But on Monday every Sunday 게

03:10So that I have примерно two weeks together.

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