No broadband in Katter country

Outspoken Independent MP Bob Katter has listed his 20 demands ahead of negotiations with both Labor and the Coalition on the formation of a minority government, and securing high-speed broadband isn't on his agenda.

(Katter for Kennedy image by
WikiTownsvillian, CC BY-SA 2.0)

While the remaining undecided regional independent MPs Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Bob Katter have indicated they will make their decision on which party to form a minority government by next week, Katter today announced the issues most important to his electorate.

In Katter's "key policy points" document (DOC) published on The Australian's website today, there is no mention of securing high-speed broadband for his electorate, and IT makes almost no appearance on the four-page policy outline. Instead, Katter lists stopping the mining tax, preventing a tax on carbon and removing the tax on Australian-produce biofuels as chief among his concerns.

It is unclear whether the national electricity grid proposed by Katter in the document would use elements of a smart grid or whether his public registry for foreign-owned land and property would be online. ZDNet Australia contacted Katter's office with clarification questions, but no response had been received at the time of publication.

Katter's apparent disinterest in broadband as a key issue goes against a statement issued by Queensland Public Works and Information Technology Minister Robert Schwarten earlier this week who said Queensland would look to Katter to "continue to work to get the best broadband deal for Queensland".

"I am sure Bob Katter will continue to express his views forcefully, no matter what type of government is chosen for this nation," Schwarten said.

The other two independents, Oakeshott and Windsor, have both previously indicated that high-speed broadband was an important issue in their respective electorates and prior to siding with Labor yesterday, fellow independent MP Andrew Wilkie listed the completion of the National Broadband Network in Tasmania as one of his top priorities.