KAP leadership change planned since December

The announcement that Robbie Katter was taking the reins from his father, Bob Katter Jnr was made on Monday morning but was decided at a federal management committee meeting last December.

Robbie Katter said they had chosen to make the announcement as state parliament prepared to sit for the first time in 2020, saying it was a symbolic act in the run-up to the October election.

"This election and the next two will be highly pivotal for rural and regional Queensland," he said.

"People are begging for a new deal - it's been a very tough few years in the regions and it's not improving.

"These people are desperate for a shake-up and we are very well positioned to do that."

Whether that would mean a coalition was on the cards after the election was a question Mr Katter answered by saying everything was on the table.

"The LNP are unlikely to get nine (more) seats to govern - it's looking very promising for us to have a commanding position."

Mr Katter, also the Member for Traeger, won the 2015 election with a 16.1pc majority and increased his vote at the 2017 election.

He said his fellow MP Shane Knuth, moving to an electorate with changed boundaries, had also managed to poll well, while Nick Dametto, the Member for Hinchinbrook, was "knocking it out of the park".

As far as continuing to be able to represent Traeger's interests, Mr Katter said his experience of having a lot on his plate was nothing new.

He said that in politics, if a representative wasn't already engaging in issues of significance to a wide audience, they weren't doing their job properly.

"There's no question it'll be difficult," he said, adding that he had put in an order for a faster plane.

It's unlikely that the public has heard the last of Bob Katter, despite the change at the top.

As well as Mr Katter saying in the media release that "to our enemies, this will free up time for me to go after your heads," Robbie Katter said his father was covering off on a lot of issues such as dairy that he himself hadn't the time to manage.

"He's the most experienced politician in Australia, but there are a lot of battles to be fought outside parliament, that I have the energy for."

He said he had been been eager to inject himself into the political game at a high level, describing himself as "champing at the bit, waiting to unleash".

"The ALP has caused carnage in the regions and we want to help deliver the blow that takes them out," he said. "There is a lot of quiet animosity, people waiting with their pencil in their hand."