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Key independent MP Bob Katter has published a 20-point wishlist, including a call for more government control of interest rates, as Australia's political limbo drags on.
Mr Katter and fellow independents Rob Oakeshott and Tony Windsor have refused to indicate which way they are likely to vote, but said last night that they hoped to make a decision early next week.
Labor now has the backing of 74 MPs, with independent MP Andrew Wilkie the latest to sign up yesterday
afternoon. Tony Abbott's Coalition has 73 seats, including Western Australia National Tony Crook.
Mr Katter's wishlist fleshes out his position on a number of key policy areas.
He said the Reserve Bank's independence and ability to set interest rates amounts to stupidity and is hurting primary producers.
“The dollar is about twice as high as it should be and all of the rural industries of Australia are dying,” he said.
“If you bring your interest rates down in line with all the other countries then the dollar will come down and that will be of enormous benefit.”
The list also includes an idea for a publicly-accessible registry to record foreign ownership of farmland, housing and businesses, tighter restrictions on food imports, increased investment in irrigation and extending the paid parental leave scheme to stay-at-home mums.
Mr Katter also wants a 22 per cent ethanol mandate in all petrol sold in Australia.
In signing up with Labor yesterday, Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie revealed that he had rejected an offer from Tony Abbott, who said he would spend $1 billion on rebuilding the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Rob Oakeshott joked that the move could free up more cash. “We were just joking that there is $1 billion on offer now because Andrew went the other way,” he said.
But on Lateline, Coalition finance spokesman Andrew Robb said the money was not up for grabs, saying the Hobart hospital would still get the money if Mr Abbott became prime minister.
“That is now a project which we will factor into our long-term spending program,” he said.
Mr Abbott and Prime Minister Julia Gillard will both be in Brisbane today to attend the funeral of Private Grant Kirby.
The 35-year-old Brisbane-based soldier died while he was on patrol in the Baluchi Valley in Afghanistan a fortnight ago.
A memorial service at Brisbane's Enoggera Barracks on Wednesday heard that he would be remembered as a loving father of two young girls and a dedicated soldier.
