Bob Katter and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with the portrait unveiled in Parliament House last week

QUEENSLAD’S fiercely independent Federal Member for the sprawling bush seat of Kennedy, Bob Katter Jr, has been formally honoured in Canberra with the unveiling of his official portrait in Parliament House.

Painted by renowned Australian artist David Darcy, the work joins the collection of portraits of former Prime Ministers, Speakers, Governor Generals and a small handful of others who have made a significant political contribution to the nation.

Mr Katter has represented his electorate – mostly winning by huge margins – since 1993, after sitting in the Queensland parliament between 1974 and 1992 as a National Party member. Between federal and state parliaments, he has served his electorate for 51 years.

No 80 years-of-age, Mr Katter used the occasion to pay tribute not only to his family and colleagues but to the generations of Australians whose resilience and ingenuity built the country.

“This is not a painting of ‘a person’ and I hope nobody sees it that way,” Mr Katter said.

“It’s recognition of people that have very strong feelings about this country, to make it a land of opportunity, to have the same wonderful opportunities that I and most of my generation enjoyed.”

In his speech, Mr Katter thanked Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Speaker of the House Milton Dick, and acknowledged his long-standing friendship since entering Parliament with the Prime Minister, as well as the Speaker’s Charters Towers family connection.

“I have been good friends with Anthony. Always liked the bloke since we first went into Parliament together. Albo, we’ve had words in the past, but whatever your shortcomings may be, I consider you a good friend,” Mr Katter said.

He also recognised the work of Queensland grazier Russell Lethbridge and the Prime Minister in progressing the long-envisioned inland highway linking Far North Queensland to Melbourne.

“That great inland highway will be completed within two and a half years, and I want to put on public record, thank you to both Russell Lethbridge and yourself, PM,” he said.

Reflecting on his early political influences, Mr Katter paid tribute to both former Prime Minister John Howard and his own mentors, Sir Leo Hielscher, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen and Lady Pearl Logan.

“I was and still am a great admirer of John Howard… But I appreciate Anthony Albanese – who like John Howard, is just an ordinary Australian,” he said.

“With the superstars that I had the honour of working with… Leo and Joe, Queensland became the biggest coal exporting state on earth.”

The Kennedy MP also reflected on his deep North Queensland roots, recounting stories of family service and sacrifice through war and hard work.

“If you add a kid who was born at the end of the Second World War – a kid that knows his family lost a son at Gallipoli and another at Changi, then you understand what you are looking at in that portrait,” Mr Katter said.

He paid special tribute to his wife Susie, describing her as the heart of their family and a driving force in his life.

“Susie, who I have been madly in love with for 53 years… She took 12 acres of land that did not have a single tree upon it. It now has 1,200 native trees of all variety upon it. A loving wife. Five wonderful children. The girl was good. Real good.”

Mr Katter also honoured the pioneers, pastoralists, and workers who shaped the Kennedy electorate and the nation.

“This painting does not represent a bloke called Bob Katter. It represents the Charlie Macdonalds, the Dame Mary Gilmores, the Sir Hudson Fisches, the Ernest Henrys, and the Thiess brothers… It will also remember the Leichhardts, the Burke and Wills, the Gilberts, the Edmund Kennedys and all those great trailblazers that lost their lives exploring what Geoffrey Blainey called ‘A Land Half Won.’”

He concluded his address with a heartfelt dedication to his late mother.

“Every single act of my life has been an affirmation of my mother… So mum, your contribution to Australia is 33 great little Australians that will carry the banner forward. So, this is for you mum. And for all the other mums that have created our great nation.”