Voice of the North West
Robbie Katter is the North West’s voice to the Queensland Parliament. As Leader of Katter’s Australian Party and Member for Traeger, he fights relentlessly for families, workers, industry development, farmers and small business owners across the vast Traeger electorate and beyond.
With real-world experience in mining, property valuation and running a small business, Robbie understands the struggles North Queenslanders face. From tackling crime and defending local industries to securing jobs and holding the Government accountable, Robbie is committed to standing up for the place he calls home.
To travel across one of Queensland’s largest electorates, Robbie holds a current pilot licence enabling him to reach all the small towns and outposts he is proud to represent.
2025 IN REVIEW #11 📌🌟 - Fairness Delivered for Fire Pilots 🚁
During the 2024 Torrens Creek fires, helicopter pilots stepped up when conditions were at their worst, flying long hours over active firegrounds to help protect homes, stock and lives.
They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t ask who was paying. They just went to work.
That’s why I called for urgent reform to Queensland’s disaster management policy to formally recognise and financially support the vital role of piston-engine helicopters, particularly during major weather emergencies in rural and remote communities.
In this case, those pilots racked up close to $100,000 in expenses responding to what was clearly a shared community emergency.
So I want to say thank you to the State Government for changing the decision and reimbursing those pilots.
But this should never have been in doubt and it needs to be a given next time, not something communities have to fight for after the fact.
These operators are community-minded first responders. In remote areas, helicopters are often the first and sometimes the only way help can reach people on the ground.
Time and again, these aircraft are the first and often only means of reaching people in crisis.
They’re not luxuries.
They’re lifelines.
- Robbie Katter MP
David Crisafulli MP Dale Last - Member for Burdekin Torrens Creek Rural Fire Brigade Ann Leahy Queensland Government
Rural Queensland Today RFBAQ - Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland Inc
Queensland Fire Department North Queensland Register
#KAPteam #KAP #qldpol #Traeger #Fires #Helicopters #Heroes #TorrensCreek #Pentland Flinders Shire Council #disaster #community ... See MoreSee Less
💧 Disaster support welcomed, but families also need help!
I welcome the additional disaster recovery funding announced for flood-affected communities across North West Queensland.
Support for our graziers and producers, including recovery grants and the expanded emergency fodder package is essential, and I welcome that assistance. I also welcome funding to repair and strengthen Cloncurry Airport, a critical lifeline when roads are cut and communities are isolated.
But recovery can’t stop at farms and infrastructure alone.
Families and individuals who’ve lost power, access or income also need direct support. That’s why I’m calling on the Government to ensure the Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme (Category A) is fully activated, including:
* Emergency Hardship Assistance for immediate needs like food, clothing, medical supplies or accommodation
* Essential Services Hardship Assistance for households without essential services for more than five days
When roads are gone and towns are cut off, people shouldn’t be left to carry the burden alone.
I’ll keep working with councils, industry and ministers to make sure support reaches producers, households and small businesses across the North West and Gulf.
If you’re impacted and unsure what help is available, please contact my office.
- Robbie Katter MP
📸 Lara Downs
David Crisafulli MP Anthony Albanese Tony Perrett MP Sean Dillon MP Ann Leahy Queensland Reconstruction Authority Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ)
#KAPteam #KAP #Traeger #Flooding #Funding #Northwestqueensland #Communities #hardships #emergency
ℹ️ Grants info: qrida.qld.gov.au or 1800 623 946
🚜 Fodder support: contact your local council
📞 Recovery Hotline: 1800 173 349 ... See MoreSee Less
🚧 ROAD UPDATE | Tuesday Jan 6, 12:40pm
The Landsborough Highway is OPEN between Mount Isa and Winton… ⚠️ with caution required between Kynuna and Winton due to flood impacts.
🟢 OPEN (with caution / conditions apply)
• Landsborough Highway… Kynuna ↔ Winton
• Landsborough Highway… Winton ↔ Longreach
• Kennedy Developmental Road… Winton ↔ Hughenden
🔴 STILL CLOSED
• Kennedy Developmental Road… Winton ↔ Boulia
• Richmond–Winton Road
👉Anyone who is in Townsville wanting to get to Mount Isa🤔
👉You can go from Townsville to Hughenden then to Winton and then back to Kynuna, McKinlay and then to Cloncurry and Mount Isa.
‼️Authorities are asking motorist to take care on the roads.
Motorists will come across soft edges, freight trucks and cattle.
🚗 Many roads across the region are still impacted by flooding… always check conditions before you travel 👉 qldtraffic.qld.gov.au
❗ Never drive through floodwater ❗
ℹ️ ABC Emergency updates: ab.co/ABC_QLD
🌧️ BOM warnings: ab.co/BOMQLD ... See MoreSee Less