Bob Katter (Kennedy, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Hansard source

I once walked with giants. Few could even come close to Shane Paulger, a quiet, considered man of great intellect but also a tenacious fighter. Shane single-handedly organised one of Australia's greatest fights—the fight against dairy deregulation and for a fair price for dairy farmers, some of the hardest-working people in our country. Like many great leaders and fighters, Shane and his family took a significant emotional and financial hit for leading this fight. What would deter others fuelled Shane Paulger. As national president and founder of the KAP, he led the KAP to 21 per cent of the Queensland vote outside the south-east corner. KAP now has four MPs and a strong base representing rural and regional Australia, agriculture, mining and developmentalism. Australia is a greater nation because of his advocacy. To him we all owe a great debt of gratitude. Vale, Shane. May you rest in peace. Thank you for being a good Australian and a good bloke.

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