Bob Katter Discusses Mining Expansion and Women's Workforce Participation in Budget Interview

Independent MP Bob Katter met with podcaster Victoria Devine in his Canberra office during coverage of the federal budget. Katter discussed his support for expanding the mining sector in Queensland. Katter said the goal of the expansion was to generate income so women could stay home and have children.

He stated that this option had been available to Australian mothers for the past 200 years but is not currently available. Devine wrote that Katter's comments came after she attempted to ask about grocery and fuel prices. The conversation instead moved to mining policy.

Devine reported that full-time and part-time workforce participation rates for Australian women are at record highs. She noted that national fertility rates have declined since the 1960s according to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. Devine stated that women over 55 are among the fastest-growing group experiencing homelessness.

She linked this trend to periods of unpaid domestic work that reduced lifetime earnings and superannuation balances.

Devine cited data showing the share of fathers taking parental leave rose from 12 per cent in 2022 to 17 per cent in 2025. She wrote that children with stay-at-home fathers for any period show improved long-term emotional and social outcomes. Devine said the choice to stay home should apply to both parents rather than only to women.

She stated that she would ask Katter about this point during a future visit to Canberra.