The colourful North Queensland MP, Bob Katter, will be immortalised in Parliament House with a one-off portrait to commemorate his 50 years across state and federal parliaments.
Katter, who was first elected in Queensland’s legislative assembly in 1974 before moving to federal politics in 1993 as part of the Nationals, has been described by the prime minister as “an institution in his own right”.
The little-known Historic Memorials Committee met for the first time in around half a century on Tuesday and decided to commission a one-off portrait of Katter in recognition of his long-serving career.
The committee is made up of Labor’s Anthony Albanese, Katy Gallagher, Milton Dick, Sue Lines, and the Coalition’s Peter Dutton and Simon Birmingham.
Albanese said much had changed over the decades in parliament but Katter’s presence had been “one of the rare constants”.
“In this great democratic institution, Bob is an institution in his own right,” Albanese said.
“It’s hard to imagine this place without him and commissioning his portrait is a way to ensure he will always be a visible and colourful part of Australia’s parliament.
“Bob inspires great affection but commissioning this portrait is, above all, an act of respect.”
When asked what he thought of the decision to grant him a portrait, Katter responded it was “an honour for an ordinary bloke”.
Past one-off portraits have included Nova Peris, the first female Indigenous parliamentarian, and Linda Burney, who was the first female Indigenous member elected to the House of Representatives.
Katter’s contributions to federal politics over the decades have earned him a reputation for being “outspoken” and “colourful”.
The now independent member for Kennedy, aged 79, is known for views varying from his origin as an agrarian socialist to social conservatism.
During Australia’s debate and plebiscite over marriage equality, Katter infamously connected the topic to crocodile fatalities. An ABC fact check later found his comments included an incorrect claim.
“People are entitled to their sexual proclivities, I mean, let there be a thousand blossoms bloom as far as I’m concerned,” Katter said.
“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.”
Katter opposed the marriage equality bill and denied there were any gay men in his north Queensland state electorate in 1989.
The Kennedy MP has often pushed boundaries in political messaging, including stunts dressing up as a pig earlier this year to draw attention to supermarket profits and as a grim reaper in 2020 to raise awareness for the local car industry.
Katter came under fire after a 2016 federal election campaign ad depicted the MP shooting what appeared to be a Labor and Liberal campaigner. It was allegedly filmed after a US shooting in an Orlando nightclub which left 49 people dead.
