General News
2 September, 2020
New Candidate for Hill
The electoral race for the seat of Hill has heat up as Labor announce their candidate.
New Candidate for Hill
On Saturday, October 31, Queenslanders head to polls for the next state election.
Last week the very first shots were fired in the electoral race for the seat of Hill as Labor announced that Yungaburra local Michael Hodgkins would be their candidate.
The seat of Hill has been held by Katter Australia party member Shane Knuth since 2017 when the new seat of Hill was established.
Much of the seat was previously part of the abolished seat of Dalrymple. Shane Knuth, the last member for Dalrymple, transferred to Hill and retained it for KAP on a large swing.
Mr Hodgkins said that being nominated for Hill was exciting as it wasn’t something that he wasn’t expecting to do.
“Last year while running for Tablelands Regional Council (TRC) I saw a lot of things that needed to be done,” he said
“So when I had an opportunity, I put my hand up for the Labor government and I was endorsed.”
Mr Hodgkins said that he believed that economic recovery post-COVID was one of the biggest issues facing Hill.
“Delivering a unite and recover plan to the community is very important to ensure that Queenslanders are kept in jobs, we also need to support local businesses to help with the recovery strategy,” he said
“I have a lot to offer, I have lived and worked in Far North Queensland for over 40 years and I have some ideas that I believe should be pursued that are not being pursued by the current local member."
Mr Hodgkins who lives in Yungaburra is married with two girls and three grandchildren said that he is a professional artist and is also well known in the local music industry.
“My wife and I own a small business which we have grown and I’m also the President of the Tablelands Folk Festival.”
Mr Hodgkins added that the current policy of keeping the Queensland border closed is a good thing.
“Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has done a great job with the border closure, protecting our health and keeping us safe from COVID,”
“If COVID ever got lose in Hill it would be devastating, it’s disappointing that several members in parliament want the border open.”
