LNP claims victory in Hinchinbrook by-election
LNP candidate Wayde Chiesa and QLD premier David Crisafulli claim victory in Ingham (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)
In short:
The Queensland LNP has claimed victory in the Hinchinbrook by-election, over Katter's Australian Party.
The by-election was seen as a temperature test for the relatively new LNP government.
The ABC is projecting a swing towards the government of more than 16 per cent
Queensland's Liberal National Party has claimed victory in the Hinchinbrook by-election in North Queensland.
With most of the first preferences counted, the LNP's Wayde Chiesa has more than 40 per cent of the vote and will go on to win the seat.
Premier David Crisafull spoke in Ingham just after 9.30pm.
"This place used to be called Katter country, it's now Chiesa country,"Mr Crisafulli said.
Just before 9pm, the LNP had secured more than 40 per cent of the vote in what has been a very safe Katter's Australian Party (KAP) seat.
Premier David Crisafulli has endorsed LNP candidate Wayde Chiesa (Supplied: Facebook)
On the latest count, the ABC is projecting a swing toward the government of more than 16 per cent.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of KAP deputy state leader Nick Dametto, who left parliament to successfully contest the Townsville mayoral race.
David Crisafulli
The KAP now has 30.7 per cent of the preliminary count, with One Nation in third place at 13.5 per cent. Labor has 8.3 per cent
More than 39,000 votes are expected in the Hinchinbrook by-election (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)
Crime, crocs, and cane
The seat reaches far into cane and croc country, from Townsville's northern suburbs to south of Tully, as well as Premier David Crisafulli's hometown of Ingham.
The KAP was tipped to retain the seat — which it holds with a more than 13 per cent margin — with its new candidate, the former Townsville deputy mayor Mark Molachino.
Mark Molachino (second from right) is a former deputy mayor of Townsville. (Supplied: Facebook )
The LNP, however, has run a series of attack ads highlighting Mr Molachino's past membership of the Labor Party.
Mr Molachino has stressed his values no longer align with those of the ALP.
He has campaigned hard on the KAP's so-called Castle Law bill.
The LNP received a little over 28 per cent of first preference votes in Hinchinbrook at the 2024 state election.
Wayde Chiesa, a childhood friend of the premier's and rugby league caller, is contesting the seat for the LNP.
His main slogan has been "breach bail, go to jail", promising to toughen bail laws for young offenders.
One Nation ran candidate Luke Sleep who picked up a 8 swing, with 13.5 per cent of the vote.
One Nation's Luke Sleep believes Hinchinbrook voters want youth crime and immigration reduced. (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)
Maurie Soars, who served on the Townsville council alongside Mr Molachino, is contesting the seat for Labor.
The ALP won just 14 per cent of first preference votes in Hinchinbrook at the state election last year.
ALP candiate Maurie Soars with Opposition Leader Steven Miles. (Supplied: Facebook )
Heated campaign
The outcome will make little difference to state parliament, where the LNP has a healthy majority.
The LNP has aggressively pursued the seat, to prove its popularity as a first term government.
The number of early voters has been high, with almost half of the expected ballots cast before Saturday, according to the Queensland Electoral Commission.
But as voters have streamed to pre-polling booths, tempers have flared.
Last week, the LNP released a video of the ALP candidate exchanging angry words with a Liberal staffer in Deeragun.
Meanwhile, the KAP has threatened legal action against Premier David Crisafulli over comments made comparing Mark Molachino to the disgraced former mayor Troy Thompson.