Katter's Australian Party MP Nick Dametto resigns from Queensland parliament to run in Townsville mayoral by-election

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Nick Dametto has formally resigned from Queensland parliament, and Katter's Australia Party, in a bid to become Townsville's mayor. The Townsville mayoral by-election will be held on November 15, while the date for the Hinchinbrook by-election is yet to be set.

Transcript

00:00Choking up as he resigns, Nick de Meadow is walking away from the House but not politics.

00:11I'm going home Mr Speaker.

00:13Home to Townsville to run for Mayor.

00:16That city that I call home deserves strong leadership.

00:19It has floundered for the last 18 months.

00:21Sparking a by-election in his Hinchinbrook seat and mixed reactions from locals.

00:27It's a betrayal because you vote them in to look after you for the term.

00:31I reckon it's pretty good if he's going to further his qualifications and be able to step up in a different job.

00:38I'm a bit surprised because I thought a lot of the locals love him.

00:41Nick de Meadow won Hinchinbrook for the Catters at last year's election with a comfortable 13% margin.

00:48The LNP is gearing up for a fight to take the seat.

00:51By-elections are very tough for governments, there's no doubt about that, particularly when you don't hold the seat.

00:56But we will show up.

00:58Labor came third in Hinchinbrook in 2024 with 14% of the primary vote.

01:04Labor fully intends to run in the Hinchinbrook by-election.

01:07The party will likely preference the KAP ahead of the LNP.

01:12I'd certainly rather work with a Qatar party MP than someone from the LNP.

01:17Ultimately, whoever wins this by-election won't have a significant impact on the make-up of the parliament,

01:23with the LNP already holding a sizeable majority.

01:26But it's the first real electoral test for all sides of politics a year after the Christopher Lee government won office.

01:33The KAP has already announced former Deputy Mayor Mark Molichino as its candidate.

01:39The outgoing Hinchinbrook MP today thanked his family and colleagues.

01:43And finally...

01:44I don't say this from a point of self-promotion or anything like that, but I want to thank me.

01:51I want to thank me for turning up whenever I could.

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