Before that election, Mr Rudd made use of the friendship. He appeared with Mr Katter at a rally in Townsville to oppose council amalgamations, a position John Howard had already adopted.

Mr Katter laughs as he recalls how Mr Rudd asked to be thanked publicly for his support, a gesture that would have helped Labor's election chances.

''I tried to step around that dingo trap,'' said Mr Katter. ''I told him, 'I'd have to thank John Howard first'.'' At the rally, Mr Rudd introduced Mr Katter as ''my good friend''.

Mr Katter laughs: ''I got trapped, I had to thank him. That's politics.''

After the 2007 election, Mr Rudd looked after Mr Katter. When his electorate of Kennedy was savaged by floods, Mr Rudd and his senior ministers visited.

Anthony Albanese ensured the construction of a much-needed bridge to help supplies reach the gulf country, a route which, even under normal weather patterns, was rendered impassable for six weeks a year.

Mr Katter said he understood the politics behind Mr Rudd losing the leadership. As the Herald reported last week, Mr Katter was in Mr Rudd's office on June 23 when Ms Gillard came knocking to declare she was going to challenge.

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-election/gillards-secret-weapon-hes-from-queensland-and-is-pleased-to-help-20100903-14uex.html?autostart=1