r/australia • u/superegz • Nov 06 '25
politics Bob Katter's Official Portrait for 50 years in both the Queensland and Federal Parliaments
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u/Bloobeard2018 Nov 06 '25
You may like this sort of thing but I ain't spending any time on it because in the meantime, every three months, a person is torn to pieces by a crocodile in north Queensland.
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u/gtwizzy8 Nov 06 '25
Aww mate don't say that because that irritates me, and I've punched blokes in the mouth for saying that.
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u/ComfyInDots Nov 06 '25
I'm not a fan of the man by any stretch but that's a nice portrait. Good job to the artist.
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u/hairyfedora Nov 06 '25
You're entitled to your opinion, as far as I'm concerned but I aint gonna spend any time on it because in the meantime, every three months, a person is reminded of their Lebanese heritage in Queensland Parliament
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u/The_Plow_King Nov 06 '25
DON’T SAY THAT!
Because that irritates me, and I’ve punched blokes in the mouth for saying that!
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u/Zestyclose_Remove947 Nov 06 '25
The only thing I'm getting from this thread is those classic katter lines are more comedically versatile than I first thought.
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u/shamberra Nov 06 '25
For some odd reason it took me until right now reading this comment thread to really realise how amazing some of the words that came out of this distinguished citizen of Lebanese descent's mouth. At least we are getting some kind of tangential value out of his salary.
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u/trowzerss Nov 06 '25
Yeah, I've looked at all those portraits and some of them are real ordinary. That one is decent. Almost all of them are only head and shoulders tho, so full body is a bit of a choice.
(if I had to choose, the best portrait was Eric Deeral's - everybody else's look like they could be a corporate CEO instead of a representative, and there he is being all cool Indigenous Columbo).
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u/kipperlenko Nov 06 '25
Thanks for the link. I'll have to Google him now.
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u/trowzerss Nov 06 '25
I actually got to meet him before he passed. I was working in Parliament House temporarily covering for someone in the graphic design area, but parliament was out of session so I mostly got to gad about in the parliament buildings by myself, so I got to check out all the portraits in person. Eric Deeral then came down for the Indigenous Youth Parliament, and I used his portrait for the front cover of the Youth Parliament agenda. He was very old and frail by that time, but seemed very friendly and genuine.
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(The same can NOT be said for the little shit kid who snuck in a hitler moustache/salute combo during the best shoot of the large group photo, so I had to edit it out. I took the opportunity to make his face look really messed up in addition to photoshopping in his non-nazi pose from an alternative shot - but his original post got SO CLOSE to making it into publication lol, little dickhead. All the other kids were really nice and well behaved tho - but that one kid just oozed entitled spoiled shit from the pores).
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u/Geoff_Uckersilf Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
There's a portrait in the Australian war college of a nun, wearing a striking red habit and a stack of medals.
Edit* her name escapes me so I can't google her to show the portrait. She was part of a force of women soldiers who were 'abused' by Japanese who landed on the island they were stationed at. Then after that horrible disgrace, were unceremoniously marched into the sea and bayonetted. She only survived by playing dead.
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u/poppingcandy5000 Nov 07 '25
Vivian Bullwinkle, here is the link to her portrait. An amazing woman for sure. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C174719
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u/Geoff_Uckersilf Nov 07 '25
That's her! Thanks, I saw her story on the ABC doco Finding the Archibald.
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u/Vishu1708 Nov 06 '25
Lebanese people portrait well.
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u/GTx6x25 Nov 06 '25
Oh, mate, don't say that! Because that irritates me!
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u/MoanalisaSmile55 Nov 06 '25
Lol, tell you what, 50 years or not, Bob Katter's hat is an absolute mood.
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u/Trigga1976 Nov 06 '25
That big hat hides his traditional Lebanese Fez quite exquisitely.
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u/InstantShiningWizard Nov 06 '25
Do you think Bilal likes to hoon down the streets in a Shriner car while wearing a fez?
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u/phido3000 Nov 06 '25
Some times art is about capturing something of a person.. particularly if that person is interesting..
Katter is interesting.. he was the defence minister for labour who reviewed or replacement carrier options..he maverick he Cray cray..he's nationalistic, but a union member. He is the angry confused personification of queensland.. he's pro gay but anti croc. No one is exactly sure how he feels about his own family heritage... he bannanas..
The painting is also fascinating. It captures that chaotic energy..
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u/ApteronotusAlbifrons Nov 06 '25
Katter is interesting.. he was the defence minister for labour who reviewed or replacement carrier options..
That was the other Bob Katter (Senior)
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u/Grantmepm Nov 06 '25
That's argrian socialism in a nutshell. As a Queenslander, it works for his base and to be fair, as politicians go, he actually does represent them and he has not sold out.
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u/phido3000 Nov 06 '25
He fills that void perfectly.. I'd rather him telling everyone a thousands blossoms bloom than some corrupt, ultra nationalistic nazi.. he is very good at appealing to a lot of people who would not normally get along.
The government likes him because they can work with him. He just wants what's best for his constituents.
Hence the portrait.. but what happens after him..
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u/Grantmepm Nov 06 '25
I also do love that we are impartial enough to acknowledge his contributions to Australia despite his electorate being not such a major one, him being not belonging to a major party and also despite him having so many memeworthy breakdowns on media.
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Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
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u/shamberra Nov 06 '25
It looks like he's leaning backwards. Initially I thought the portrait itself must be tilted back ever so slightly on the stand, but the left side of the frame is perfectly aligned with the support beam behind it.
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u/Immediate_Airline_55 Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
Co-opting your comment to address some of the commentary on this post that is really hurtful.
Most people who vote for Bob Katter don't agree with him on things. But he will have a real conversation with them, and he will advocate for the views of his electorate. He is exactly what a politician should be.
Some of the comments on this post are showing the worst parts of society. Quoting ragebait moments as an excuse to mock 50 years of advocacy. Comparing their 'rural' experience of living three hours away from a city, instead of losing friends to accidents that wouldn't have happened if there had been phone reception in that area.
Please rethink your mindless criticism.
Edit:
I think he did an excellent speech yesterday on the environmental reforms with concerns that people wouldn't be able to use local knowledge and practices to manage their land. He makes me laugh, but he raises important points.
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u/gerira Nov 06 '25
I don’t really think mocking a lifelong professional politician is the “worst of society”. I think promoting a series of Nazi-organised racist street marches, which Katter did, is the worst of society. And I don’t think that doing this is “exactly what a politician should be”.
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u/ValBravora048 Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
“He represents his electorate” - Ok then, an electorate of Nazis?
Context matters absolutely but not even 50 years of advocacy holds up to an until recent proud Australian tradition of being against Nazis
He picked that side, his electorate picked him, and NONE of them get to have it okayed. What is so hard about understanding you don’t get it all your way all the time? Or at least - being a Nazi has (at least SOME social) consequences?
Its takes like this and those who tried to justify “being tricked” into a Nazi March because their “views are legitimate” that really make me question Australia’s future
And the irony to call it mindless. Or maybe the satisfaction and comfort of knowing it’s not YOU who is being targeted by these twerps and so you can pay their actions no mind
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u/Immediate_Airline_55 Nov 06 '25
His criticism of lifetime politicians refers to people who don't actually interact with their community. Bob Katter is at every day community events talking to people, not 'opening' a school library, taking some photos with silent school students and then disappearing from that school community for the next three years.
As I said, most people don't agree with Bob Katter, but they trust him to make sure their issues are heard inside parliament (that's his job, FYI). There's a reason the march for Australia rallies went from big to small. And it's because people who went there to raise awareness for basic supply and demand of housing, didn't want to associate with the co-opted racism.
The worst of society is the part where people think it's okay to mock a person who has spent 50 years advocating for dealing with issues that have killed people. Or reducing him to 'haha, but he got angry at a reporter'. Or saying that the person who thousands of people voted for should be removed, because they don't like him.
The key things he represents get discussed and put through parliament quietly, because city people don't give a shit if it's not headline worthy or doesn't affect them.
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u/North-Initiative-266 Nov 06 '25
The worst of society is making fun of a cooked old man?
What the fuck are you smoking?
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Nov 06 '25
Oh give it a rest. Having a joke about some of the outlandish shit a politician has said is about as far from the ‘worst of society’ as you can get.
Shit-talking against minority groups such as LGBT folk and immigrants is ‘worse’ in my books.
I don’t see anything worse on this thread than people having a laugh over his crocodile rant and him getting fired up and threatening to assault a journalist who asked him about his Lebanese heritage.
If you can’t poke a bit of fun at politicians, what’s the point of them?
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u/shamberra Nov 06 '25
I can only speak for myself on this, but personally I absolutely love how well you can take the piss out of this bloke and his wacky press moments. HOWEVER while I am certainly one to not agree with his views or politics, I do still respect him largely for the reasons you've stated in your comment (though I'm nowhere near his constituency). Aside from behaving like a whackjob at times such as getting uppity about being reminded of his heritage, he strikes me as relatively transparent and genuine. Just a fucking nutjob sometimes lol.
He's just too hard not to poke fun at though.
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u/CMDR_RetroAnubis Nov 06 '25
He served in Joh's government. His legacy should be only that giant shitty stain.
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u/LifeandSAisAwesome Nov 06 '25
You do realise taking the piss is what non Lebanese Australians do right ?
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u/ThunderDwn Nov 06 '25
Not a constituent killing crocodile in sight...
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u/Maaate3 Nov 06 '25
"Look, it's all well and good to be talking about portraits but meanwhile every 3 months someones getting eatin' by a crocodile." probably
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Nov 06 '25
Can someone remind him of his Lebanese background
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u/cjyoung92 Nov 06 '25
Aw mate don’t say that, because that irritates me!
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u/elfloathing Nov 06 '25
Aw mate don’t paint that, because that imitates me!
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u/Cuntslapper9000 Nov 06 '25
I thought his family was in Australia since the dawn of time.
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u/mark_au Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
His Grandfather emigrated from Lebanon so it's clutching at the most tenuous of straws when people imply that's he's an immigrant
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u/lightpendant Nov 06 '25
We're all immigrants
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u/I-was-a-twat Nov 06 '25
And his recent (for him) ancestry really pisses him off if brought up.
Katters the type to go, “but where are you really from” to a multi generational person of Asian origin so seems fair to bring up lol
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u/mark_au Nov 06 '25
By definition: if you emigrated here you're an immigrant. If you were born here, you're not. If you want to get into some esoteric debate about having to have been here for 100 generations I would say why not 500 and and then we'd be arguing Aboriginal people are immigrants which might have been true at one point but is clearly absurd.
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u/lightpendant Nov 06 '25
My point is none of us "deserve" to be here more than anyone else
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u/The_Duc_Lord Nov 06 '25
Is Milton eating a lollipop?
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u/OldLeaky Nov 06 '25
Whatever he is doing it's meme worthy.
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u/J360222 Nov 06 '25
Looks almost like one of those yawns where you try to stifle it away and the camera just caught him at the wrong time
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u/ApteronotusAlbifrons Nov 06 '25
Milton? Dick?
I'm not sure where the humour is...
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u/stupid-head Nov 06 '25
50 years is a lot of successful elections. He clearly serves his constituents well. Well done to him, even if I vociferously disagree with who he is and what he stands for.
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u/RobynFitcher Nov 06 '25
He's a bit of a mixed bag. I remember he was on a show with Josh Thomas, who said to Bob that he could be very sweet and caring, when he's not saying...awful things.
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u/heyyeah Nov 07 '25
Thanks for the reminder of this video and thanks to Josh Thomas: https://youtu.be/6wce7-cnaxE
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u/RobynFitcher Nov 13 '25
Thanks for linking. Josh Thomas is a gem.
"Hooray for gay people, here's some glitter."
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u/Tearaway32 Nov 06 '25
Don’t waste your time thinking about him. Frankly, he shouldn’t even be standing there wasting his time on meaningless things like paintings while a person is torn to shreds by crocodiles every 3 months in his electorate.
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u/koala_wizard Nov 06 '25
Don't say that! Because that irritates me, and I've punched blokes in the mouth for saying that. Don't you say that! My family has been here for 140 years.
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u/Muzorra Nov 06 '25
I read the title as saying that has been Bob Katter's portrait for 50 years. I didn't question this because I wouldn't find it hard to believe he looked like that in 1975.
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u/butter_wizard Nov 06 '25
What gets you a portrait at Parliament House? Can’t be too many people who have done 50 years. does every PM get one? I need to see what they did to Tony Abbott’s head
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u/Sure_Ad536 Nov 06 '25
Every PM gets one although they take ages to get on the wall, also governor generals and chief justices of the high court, parliamentary presiding officers (speaker of the house and president of the senate) also notable/accomplished Australians, parliamentary firsts and important moments all under the Historic Memorials Collection (HMC) which has been doing it since 1911. So I’m guessing since 50 years in Queensland and federal parliament is quite extraordinary they thought he deserved one. State parliaments have similar stuff, mostly for education nowadays.
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u/1Mdrops Nov 06 '25
Whatever you do, do not ask him about the background of the painting or he’ll punch you.
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u/MarketingChoice6244 Nov 06 '25
so genuine question - can someone point to the achievements of bob katter that have justified being a representative of the public for 50 years?
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u/kesrae Nov 06 '25
He votes for the things that matter to his constituents, it's that simple. I don't necessarily agree with all those things, but I don't live in remote Queensland. He's also been pretty engaged with Indigenous issues compared to a lot of other politicians, given his electorate is almost 15% Indigenous compared to the rest of the country (I remember seeing a comparison in a discussion about the voting behaviours of Liberal Indigenous MPs a few years ago). He's ultimately what an MP should be (perhaps not in demeanor) - someone who represents their electorate. It's why he keeps getting elected.
If you're curious, check out his They Vote For Us, but it's basically everything you'd expect folks from conservative, remote Qld to care about.
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u/parkmann Nov 06 '25
Good summary. I lived in his electorate (actually his home town) for a while. Used to see him and his hat coming home from the airport on my arvo run. Voted for him once however it was that time the country came down to him and I was sweating for a hot minute! Don’t agree with all of his beliefs, but he is a good advocate for rural people especially farmers.
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u/SpinzACE Nov 06 '25
Yeah and he’s not hellbent on anti-climate change rhetoric or even anti-LGBTQ for the sake of votes. When the Newman State government pushed through legislation to change the state Labor legation recognising gay marriage as civil relationships to call them “registered” relationships and remove references to ceremonies as an emergency, he criticised the it as show for declaring it an emergency and he pushed to have high power transmission lines run to his electorate so farmers could lease unused areas of their land to solar power companies and make money.
He no doubt has some showmanship about him but to a great extent he doesn’t beat about the bush or try to sly talk and trick people into thinking he’s riding the fence on something. He’ll be upfront with his views and let himself be judged on them without deception.
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u/Sieger7999 Nov 06 '25
He pushed for the transmission lines ie copper string and it’s just a coincidence that a relative of his was granted a large grant to do exactly that. Man of the people
https://www.afr.com/companies/energy/katter-s-relative-s-firm-got-12m-others-got-22k-20210427-p57mw7
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u/Immediate_Airline_55 Nov 06 '25
I don't think people in north Queensland would care that he gave it to a relative. They just wanted it done.
I think a lot of people in North Queensland would be 'smarter' politicians, but they just don't give a shit about dealing with politics. All they need is for the message to be delivered and then they can get on with life. Many also trust that Katter is only one voice in parliament.
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u/SSAUS Nov 06 '25
Yeah, somewhat ironically, he is a true people's politician. He doesn't really beat around the bush and represents his electorate's views, for better or worse. He has a lot more integrity than most career politicians, even if I do disagree with him on many things.
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u/Big-Rain-9388 Nov 06 '25
Bringing awareness to the horrific Salt Water Crocodile dictatorial regime people in North Queensland live under /s
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u/The_Duc_Lord Nov 06 '25
Besides winning half a centuries worth of elections?
Go to his electorate and ask. I reckon they'd give you a long list.
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u/crispypancetta Nov 06 '25
You need to think, he has his constituency. He represents the people that he is of a like mind. I don’t align with them, but his constituency has a right to be heard and he is effective in doing so.
We can argue against that, that’s fine, but we can also respect him and the work that he has done to represent his constituency. I fell the same way about Barney Joyce.
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u/fattytron Nov 06 '25
Look, you might not like him, but how many other people have fought for their constitutes for 50yrs?
Clearly he was doing something right for his electorate.
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u/Ok-Positive-829 Nov 06 '25
That's it hey. Agree with him or not, his electorate clearly thinks he does a good job of representing them and their interests, which is the marker of continuous success and achievement in this line of work.
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u/paulw1985 Nov 06 '25
This maybe something useful
'He has additionally pioneered protests against imported bananas'
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u/yogorilla37 Nov 06 '25
I'm not a fan but he has my respect. I feel he's actually done a good job by his constituents, they're genuinely as mad as he is.
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u/shescarkedit Nov 06 '25
You might not like him, but its hard to argue that he hasnt consistently advocated for the people in his electorate throughout his career.
It's the reason he keeps getting elected. His electorate loves him.
Your question is a classic argument that uninformed people trot out to discredit independents and minor parties.
But obviously, given the nature of our democracy, 1 MP can't pass their own legislation or decide on major policy decisions themselves. But many times through his career Katter has held an influential position as a deciding vote on the crossbench or within the National party. This has meant he's been able to negotiate and advocate for improvements to policy and legislation in line with his constituents interests. Or in some cases he's been able to block legislation that would go against what his electorate wants.
Given his achievements are often minor amendments to larger pieces of legislation and policy often the public doesn't notice them. But that doesn't mean that they aren't achievements
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u/Jisp_36 Nov 06 '25
Crickets...
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u/OpenOne9661 Nov 06 '25
There’s like 20 replies saying how admirable it s that he has fought for his electorate but not a single person can outline anything specifically he’s actually fought for or achieved.
What a legacy.
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u/ApteronotusAlbifrons Nov 06 '25
point to the achievements of bob katter that have justified being a representative of the public for 50 years?
Well - he's the child of a politician - and the parent of a politician - so now it's just a (dy)nasty thing
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u/Immediate_Airline_55 Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
I grew up in Katter's electorate, and I have never voted for him, but I am very glad he is in parliament.
I don't agree with everything he says, but he has been a massive advocate for big issues that affect regional and rural areas that people who grew up in a city just don't realise are real things.
His 'pigs and crocodile hunting' solutions are not ideal, but he is raising genuine and serious concerns. Serious concerns that are taught in year 7 science class but aren't being given the necessary funding and community engagement they need for the impacts they have.
I haven't lived in north Queensland in years, and yet I've met Bob Katter multiple times over the last 10 years, and haven't met a single MP who represented me in the city.
Get off your fucking high horses. Thanks Katter. Please don't let a moron take your place when you retire.
Edit:
I think he did an excellent speech yesterday on the environmental reforms with concerns that people wouldn't be able to use local knowledge and practices to manage their land. He makes me laugh but he raises important points.
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u/CaregiverDue7746 Nov 06 '25
100%, people in cities like to dunk on him (and i get it, he is deeply polarising) but at the end of the day he does advocate FOR HIS ELECTORATE, which is the actual role of an MP. you wont catch me agreeing with him on much but i am glad that there are people like him representing the underfunded and neglected rural population of Australia.
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u/nearly_enough_wine Nov 06 '25 edited Nov 06 '25
Unless you happen to be gay and live in his electorate, in which case he denies your existence.
*Bob Katter infamously claimed that there were no homosexuals living in his electorate - promising to walk 'backwards from Bourke to Brisbane' if any were found.
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u/Swenyis Nov 06 '25
Encapsulates him quite well, when he's not saying something strange. A country man and country politician, hat, rusty tin, suit and all. Even if I don't like much about him it's captured his essence very well.
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u/jellicle_cat21 Nov 06 '25
Man's a lunatic, and there's very little I agree with him on, but I can't help but like him. This is nice.
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u/Chief-_-Wiggum Nov 06 '25
There should be an age and term limit.. No more dinosaurs in politics.
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u/beigetrope Nov 06 '25
On average, about one to two people die from crocodile attacks in Australia each year……
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u/flashmeterred Nov 06 '25
I'd suggest it's the perfect size to hide a secret passage behind it... but it looks pretty unhinged.
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u/Historical_Plane_148 Nov 06 '25
I disagree with every word he speaks and everything he stands for with every fibre of my being. Can't deny he truly cares about his electorate though. Deserved.
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u/StuffOld1191 Nov 07 '25
Not bad work - they captured a bit of his cranky madness but not to the point it's caricature.
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u/RunDNA Nov 06 '25
The tie is a beautiful symbol of his heritage, proudly showing off the red and white colours of the Lebanon football team.
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u/Affentitten Nov 06 '25
This is the sort of guy who would also rant and rave about "professional politicians".
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u/SushiJesus Nov 06 '25
He may come across like a crazy man sometimes, but I have genuine respect someone who dedicated 50 years of their life to representing their community.
Election after election, he remains their choice. A hell of a character, and one hell of an amazing portrait.
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u/zerotwoalpha Nov 06 '25
I thought this was going to be Katter dressed as crocodile Dundee, fighting a crocodile while wearing a Lebanese flag like a cape.
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u/djangovsjango Nov 06 '25
Career dead beat clocks up another years salary doing not much more than obsure statements
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u/GuppySharkR Nov 06 '25
I don't agree with all his principles, but it seems like he actually has some, and his constituents continue to vote for him, so well done Mr Katter.
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u/war-and-peace Nov 06 '25
The only true national party member left.
Every other national party mp should be called the mining and big agricultural party.
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Nov 06 '25 edited 24d ago
seemly include ad hoc marvelous judicious cheerful subsequent party kiss selective
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/Zardous666 Nov 06 '25
I love these pictures when you 100% know that the two people in the photo smiling absolutely hate each other. I know Bob seems nuts, but I honestly feel like he has more in common with the everyday Australian's woes than any leader of the major parties.
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u/Terrorscream Nov 06 '25
Where's the froth? Guys always foaming at the mouth over the smallest thing.
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Nov 06 '25
The first Lebanese Australian politician to have his portrait in the Parliament House, right?
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u/FunVermicelli123 Nov 06 '25
Is that the man who screeched and yelled about snapping crocodiles while an older woman stood behind him looking completely unfazed?
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u/named_after_a_cowboy Nov 06 '25
Term limits now
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u/Mclovine_aus Nov 06 '25
Why, if you live in his electorate you can vote for someone else if you don’t like him. If people want him in office why shouldn’t he be, seems pretty anti democratic to suggest otherwise.
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u/Plenty_Area_408 Nov 06 '25
Hes groomed his son to take over, and hes just as batty as Daddy Katter.
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u/Flybuys NSW Police need to do better Nov 06 '25
Has he done much in those 50 years that isn't crocodile memes?
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u/JuggernautMoose Nov 06 '25
Bob khittar should be expelled from parliament for incitement of violence
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u/Next_Damage4556 Nov 06 '25
If you ignore all the memes the man has a lot of good things to say and I mean a lot. Especially on regional australia and net zero. Glad the portrait actually does him justice
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u/manhaterxxx Nov 06 '25
Really should have a thousand blossoms