KENNEDY kingmaker Bob  Katter is exhausted. The Independent MP has found it's not easy being a kingmaker, but is enjoying his moment in the sun.

The popular MP was in Charters Towers yesterday relaxing with his wife, Susie, and building a cubbyhouse for his granddaughter, after one of the most amazing weeks in his 36-year political career.

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The 65-year-old became a political power-broker in a hung parliament after he was convincingly returned as the
independent MP for the vast northern electorate of Kennedy.

Although Mr Katter has a strong margin in his electorate, the rest of the country could not find a clear winner out of last Saturday’s federal election.

"In nine days, with the exception of one when I had five, I have only had four hours sleep a night," Mr Katter said.

"Suddenly, I was one of the most powerful men in Australia and then you’re immediately up on pedestal and people start shooting at you.

"The metropolitan media has been trying to make us (fellow independents Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott) out to be country buffoons and hicks and we have been riding the roller-coaster."

It’s certainly been a wild ride.

Mr Katter has been in the public eye for more than 30 years but even he was surprised by the 70 journalists waiting for him when he arrived at Canberra airport this week.

He flew into the nation’s capital on Monday for talks with Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott in a bid to plot a way forward for a politically gridlocked Australia.

Since then, he’s been on the front page of the New York Times, chased by hundreds of media outlets in Australia and across the world and his staffers have had to deal with 700-800 media requests.

He’s also been wooed by Australia’s other political heavyweights Prime Minister Julia Gillard and Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

"Campaigning is not working, it’s fun, but this week has been a lot of hard work and I would not say it’s been fun," he said.

"I felt a great sense of satisfaction when we won on Saturday, because I’m never confident going into an election, but I would not say that I’m proud of the position I’m in now.

"But I am in a position where I can stand on my record and I am proud of that."

Mr Katter did campaign on the platform that he and rural mates Mr Windsor and Mr Oakeshott could hold the balance of power, and he’s humbled by the opportunity they have all been given.

He doesn’t see it as a chance to grab power or settle old parliamentary scores but as an
opportunity to install a stable government and most importantly for him, to deal with 25 years of rural neglect.

"I spent the first day in my electorate on Thursday and the people have been really kind," he said.

"They understand I have a difficult decision to make.

"In the end, there will be a lot who will hate me for the decision I make but they have to understand, I will not be voting Liberal or Labor.

"I will be voting for us.

"I don’t care who is running the show.

"I care that it’s the best option for Australia."

Late yesterday, it looked like the major parties would each have 72 seats in the lower house.

Brisbane is the only seat still in doubt, although it looks likely the Coalition will win the seat from veteran Labor MP
Arch Bevis.

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