Bob Katter backs Australian Coalition
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Australia's North Queensland independent Member of Parliament (MP), Bob Katter, who holds balance of power to decide which party to form minority government, on Tuesday declared support to Coalition.
Katter has split with the two other regional independents, confirming he cannot back Labor Leader Julia Gillard as prime minister.
"I am confirming that I'm backing the coalition," Katter told reporters inside his office at Parliament House in Canberra on Tuesday.
Katter's decision to throw his support behind Opposition leader Tony Abbott means the Coalition is now on equal footing with Labor on 74 seats. But both sides are still two seats short of the majority needed to form government.
The other two independents, Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott, are expected to announce their decision on which party to back later on Tuesday afternoon.
Katter said he would respect Windsor's and Oakeshott's decision on which of the two major parties to back.
"They have very moral convictions and they will follow through on those convictions," Katter said.
"I will most certainly respect whatever decision they make."
