A POLITICAL stoush has erupted between Federal MP Bob Katter and local Independent state member Chris Foley.

In a visit to Maryborough this week, Mr Katter claimed Mr Foley was snubbing him after refusing to join Katter's Australian Party in June.

Mr Katter said on Thursday it was easier for him to speak to the CEO of international mining company BHP Billiton than it was to meet with Mr Foley.

He said he had spent more than three days and twelve phone calls attempting to contact Mr Foley to arrange a meeting.

Mr Foley, who was on annual leave on Fraser Island this week, said there had been no attempt to contact his office about the visit to Maryborough, where Mr Katter spent more than four hours talking with residents and council members.

He said he had been alerted to Mr Katter's visit after an article in The Chronicle on Tuesday.

Mr Foley's staff members said the only attempt to contact his office was made on June 7 when a series of increasingly agitated phone calls were placed by Mr Katter.

Maryborough assistant electorate officer Paul Truscott said Mr Katter swore at staff when they refused to pull Mr Foley out of a meeting.

“He wanted to speak to him right then and there,” he said.

Mr Katter hit back at claims he had been rude to staff. “I was uncharacteristically, not rude” he said.

Mr Foley said the abuse his staff received from Mr Katter in those phone calls played a part in his decision not to join the Australian Party.

The calls were an attempt to convince Mr Foley to join the fledging Katter's Australian Party.

Maryborough was one of the first area's Mr Katter toured after announcing earlier this week his party would swallow up the Queensland Party at the next state election.

Australian Party new state leader Aidan McLindon, a long time friend of Mr Foley, joined Mr Katter on the tour after the pair announced on Tuesday they would run against independents who didn't join them.

Mr Foley commented he had found it strange Mr Katter and Mr McLindon were even travelling to Maryborough as the last words he had had with Mr McLindon indicated the merger negotiations between the two parties meant Katter would not contest against independent MP's.

“He said ‘Sorry, I couldn't convince Bob not to run against independents,'” Mr Foley said.

Mr Foley said he was disappointed the party was campaigning in independent seats instead of concentrating on the major parties.

Mr McLindon could not be reached for comment yesterday.