He's known as the "mad hatter" of Australian politics: an eccentric and unpredictable septuagenarian who loves guns, hates bats and once claimed there were no gay people in his huge electorate.

But Bob Katter could soon be a very powerful man.

The Queensland rural independent is considered one of the crossbenchers most likely to help the Coalition form a minority government if it falls short of the seats it needs to govern in its own right. He's already said to be drawing up a list of demands.