FED:Don't count on my vote, Katter warns

AAP General News (Australia)
08-20-2010
FED:Don't count on my vote, Katter warns

By Evan Schwarten

CAIRNS, Aug 20 AAP - Maverick MP Bob Katter has warned the coalition not to take the
support of rural independents as a given if Saturday's federal election results in a hung
parliament.

But the north Queenslander says he and fellow independents Robert Oakeshott and Tony
Windsor are no more inclined to throw their support behind Labor.

The three independents could become a powerful force in the next parliament should
both major parties fall short of the 76 seats needed to govern in their own right.

Mr Katter, the MP for Kennedy, said the trio had agreed to meet to discuss which side
to support should that eventuate.

He said they would likely throw their support behind whichever party offered the best
deal for rural and regional Australia.

However, the former National Party MP warned his former colleagues that didn't necessarily
mean them.

"I couldn't care less who is the Prime Minister of Australia - what I do care about
is the survival of the people I represent," he told AAP.

"We have suffered terribly under 12 years of (coalition) government and there has been
very little improvement in the last three years under Labor."

AAP ews/pjo/goc/

KEYWORD: POLL10 KATTER

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