Bob Katter
Robert Bellarmine Carl Katter (born 22 May 1945) is an Australian politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1993. He was previously active in Queensland state politics from 1974 to 1992. Katter was a member of the National Party until 2001, when he left to sit as an independent. He formed his own party, Katter's Australian Party, in 2011.
The Honourable Bob Katter | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 1993 | |
| Father of the House | |
| Assumed office 11 April 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Kevin Andrews |
| Member of the Australian Parliament for Kennedy | |
| Assumed office 13 March 1993 | |
| Preceded by | Rob Hulls |
| Leader of the Katter's Australian Party | |
| In office 5 June 2011 – 3 February 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Succeeded by | Robbie Katter |
| Member of the Queensland Parliament for Flinders | |
| In office 7 December 1974 – 25 August 1992 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Longeran |
| Succeeded by | Seat abolished |
| Minister for Northern Development; Community Services & Indigenous Affairs | |
| In office 7 November 1983 – 25 September 1989 | |
| Premier | Joh Bjelke-Petersen Mike Ahern Russell Cooper |
| Preceded by | Thomas Gilmore |
| Succeeded by | Martin Tenni |
| Minister for Mines and Energy | |
| In office 25 September 1989 – 7 December 1989 | |
| Premier | Russell Cooper |
| Preceded by | Martin Tenni |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Gilmore Tony McGrady |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Robert Bellarmine Carl Katter 22 May 1945 Cloncurry, Queensland, Australia |
| Political party | Katter's Australian (since 2011) |
| Other political affiliations | National (until 2001) Independent (2001–2011) |
| Relations | Carl Katter (half-brother) Alex Douglas (nephew) Kim Hames (cousin) See Katter family |
| Children | Robbie |
| Parent(s) | Bob Katter Sr. Mabel Horn |
| Residence(s) | Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia |
| Education | Mount Carmel College St Columba Catholic College |
| Alma mater | University of Queensland |
| Occupation | Member of Parliament - Insurance, mining and cattle interests (Self-employed) |
| Profession | Farmer, Labourer and Politician |
| Website | www |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | Australian Army Reserve |
| Years of service | 1964–1972 |
| Rank | Second Lieutenant |
| Unit | 49th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment |
Other offices
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Katter was born in Cloncurry, Queensland. His father, Bob Katter Sr., was also a politician. Katter was elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the 1974 state election, representing the seat of Flinders. He was elevated to cabinet in 1983, under Joh Bjelke-Petersen, and was a government minister until the National Party's defeat at the 1989 state election.
Katter left state politics in 1992, and the following year was elected to federal parliament standing in the Division of Kennedy (his father's old seat). He resigned from the National Party in the lead-up to the 2001 federal election, and has since been re-elected four more times as an independent and another four times for his own party. Katter is known for his social conservatism. His son, Robbie Katter, is a state MP in Queensland, the third generation of the family to be a member of parliament.