He’s as well known for his trademark Akubra as he is for his boots-and-all support of the licensed firearms community. Such is his longevity on the Australian political landscape, his Far North Queensland electorate is called “Katter Country”.

We sit down with Bob Katter…

NIOA Mag: Bob, let’s start by looking back. We all have memories of our first shooting trip. Tell us about yours…

Bob: I’ve got a scar on my second finger; grandad said I could shoot the shotgun and the stock had fallen off it and the spring had taken all of padding off my second finger. I didn’t even notice that it had happened, I was that excited, I was jumping up and down. I had shot my first turkey.

NIOA Mag: You caused a bit of a blow-up in the media last year when you called for teenagers to be trained to use rifles. How old were you when you got your hands on your first rifle?

Bob: I was 12, I went away for boarding school. There was no secondary school in Cloncurry. I was informed on a Friday afternoon “there’s cadets”. I wasn’t asked if I wanted to join or anything, I was just told Friday afternoon is cadets and I was handed a 303 rifle.

NIOA Mag: Describe that gun and how you felt the first time you went out for a shoot?

Bob: The thing was nearly as big and as heavy as me. But I can remember the thoughts vividly going through my mind: “I’m a grown up, they’re trusting me, I’m going to defend my country”. This was just 12 years after the Second World War and I just felt it was such a great honour to be given the responsibility of protecting and defending my country.

NIOA Mag: Do you have time to get out these days? What type of guns do you keep for hunting and shooting?

Bob: I don’t get any time really to go shooting these days. Until they put all the bans, I reckon I knocked off about half a million toads with my old air rifle, which I still have (it still works).

NIOA Mag: What are the essential skills and knowledge every beginner, no matter their age, should possess?

Bob: You never, ever point a gun at a person. You assume every gun is loaded. No one should be allowed to purchase a gun until they can understand this.

NIOA Mag: We are seeing some changes in states such as Victoria and WA. What are your thoughts on ethical hunting, vermin control and conservation efforts related to hunting?

Bob: My thoughts are never around hunting, and maybe it’s the opinion of a kid who was born when we were still at war with Japan, dodged invasion by 10 days. I am not prepared to give the government the right to protect my home, my property, and most importantly my family. I would not trust the government with that responsibility.

NIOA Mag: You’ve been outspoken on firearms rights and ownership, especially for people on the land. How do you balance the expectations of today’s society with the rights of responsible gun owners?

Bob: I think there is a case that you should be licensed to own a gun, probably wouldn’t have said that 30 years ago. If you do something wrong, you lose that license.

NIOA Mag: In what ways can the Australian shooting community ensure their voice will continue to be heard in government?

Bob: I think the most valuable asset you have as far as power goes is your vote. And from my experience with politicians, they represent the most cowardly group of people in society, you can scare them so easily, and if you simply confront them and say “if you are going to take my right to defend my kids and my wife and my family and my property off me, then I’m going to vote against you”.

NIOA Mag: One final question: 30 years as the Federal MP for Kennedy, what’s coming up for you in 2024? More time for shooting?

Bob: Definitely not a lot of time for shooting, maybe toads.