ABC’s Australian Story turns its focus to long-serving federal MP Bob Katter as he approaches his 80th birthday. The program examines his lengthy political career and his current position of influence on the crossbench.
Here’s the Lowdown: Airing Monday, April 14 at 8:00pm on ABC Australia and ABC iview, this episode profiles Bob Katter, a distinctive figure in Australian politics for over 50 years. With the possibility of a hung parliament after the next election, Katter finds himself potentially in a position to influence government formation, similar to his role in 2010. The episode includes commentary from former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
What This Means Now: The program presents Katter reflecting on past experiences and stating his intention to leverage any potential balance-of-power position to secure outcomes for his electorate. His comment, “I’ll be pretty brutal about getting what I want,” suggests a determined approach should the situation arise.
The Bigger Picture: Australian Story gained significant access, filming Katter over five months in Canberra, his electorate, and at home. The profile aims to provide a deeper understanding of the man behind the public persona, exploring his political longevity, his connection with constituents (including younger voters drawn to his social media presence), and his family life. It coincides with Katter receiving the honour of an official portrait.
