General News
17 March, 2026
Knuth slams proposal to abolish Hill electorate
MEMBER for Hill Shane Knuth has launched a fierce attack on the Queensland Redistribution Commission’s proposal to abolish the electorate of Hill, warning it will strip North Queensland communities of their voice in Parliament.
Under the commission’s proposal, which endorses the LNP submission recommending the abolishment of Hill, the electorate would be dismantled and absorbed into neighbouring electorates including Mulgrave, Hinchinbrook and Flinders, diminishing North Queensland seats from 13 to 12 – increasing Brisbane to more than 60.
Mr Knuth said this was in spite of an overwhelming number of submissions to the commission that strongly opposed abolishing the seat of Hill, including Tablelands Regional Council.
He described the decision to abolish Hill as a “devastating blow” to communities across the Tablelands and Cassowary Coast, who “will lose a dedicated representative fighting for the north in Brisbane”.
“I am extremely disappointed and deeply concerned by the proposal to abolish the seat of Hill and carve our communities up between other electorates,” Mr Knuth said.
“I have my doubts the commission would have recommended for the abolishment of Hill without the LNP Submission.
“The LNP have quickly forgotten they won government because of the trust and support from regional Queenslanders – this is a direct blow to that trust.”
Mr Knuth said changing the entire boundaries and reducing North Queensland representation could have been avoided by simply adding an additional seat to increase Parliament to 94 members.
“It’s bizarre...politics has overridden common sense,” he said.
Mr Knuth said the proposal raised serious questions about the integrity of the redistribution process and the level of influence major political parties had over it.
“Regional Queenslanders are rightly asking whether this process is truly independent when the outcome so clearly disadvantages North Queensland,” he said.
“Once again, decisions are being made in the interest of the major parties and the South-east corner, which weakens the representation of regional communities.”
Mr Knuth said this was not the first time he had been targeted.
“My electorates have been abolished twice before in previous redistributions. This is now the third attempt to get rid of me,” he said.
“But I will continue to fight just as hard as I always have to protect the representation of our communities.”
Mr Knuth is urging residents across North Queensland, the Tablelands and the Cassowary Coast to lodge formal objections to the proposal before the redistribution is finalised.
“North Queenslanders still have the opportunity to stand up and demand fair representation,” he said.
Mr Knuth encouraged all North Queenslanders to make their voices heard.
“If people stay silent, Brisbane will continue to take seats away from the north,” he said.
“But if North Queensland stands together, we can send a clear message that our communities deserve better.”
Objections to the proposed redistribution can be submitted until 9 April to the Queensland Redistribution Commission at QRCsubmissions@ecq.qld.gov.au or by mail to Queensland Redistribution Commission, GPO Box 1393, Brisbane QLD 4001.
A petition has been launched opposing the abolishment of Hill. To sign it, go to www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Work-of-the-Assembly/Petitions/current
ELECTORAL CHANGES:
MULGRAVE
Picks up: Atherton, Tolga, Tinaroo, Kairi, Walkamin, Barrine and Yungaburra
FLINDERS (formerly Traeger)
Picks up: Malanda, Tarzali, Millaa Millaa, Herberton, Wondecla, Mt Garnet and Ravenshoe
COOK
Picks up: Kuranda and Speewah (previously in Barron River).
