General News
3 November, 2020
Seven in a row
Hill MP Shane Knuth is now the second-longest server MP in the current Queensland Parliament after his seventh straight win over the weekend.
Katter Australia Party’s (KAP) Shane Knuth is now the second longest-serving MP in the current Queensland parliament after winning his seat of Hill over the weekend.
Mr Knuth first entered parliament in 2004 and since then through redistributions he has won three successive seats: Charters Towers (2004–2009), Dalrymple (2009–2017) and Hill (2017–present).
Even though online bookies had Mr Knuth at nearly even money, winning Hill was something that he said was never a given.
“It’s a great honour and privilege that residents of Hill have once again put their faith in me and it’s a very humbling experience to get so much support throughout the region,” he said
Mr Knuth received 53.0 per cent of the primary vote with +4.8 per cent swing towards him and also a massive 70.7 per cent of the vote on preferences with 81.3% counted.
“It’s still too early to tell, but yes it does look like a stronger swing than the 2017 election.” Mr Knuth said.
All three KAP incumbents did well over the weekend with Nick Dametto (Hinchinbrook) and Robbie Katter (Traeger) also receiving strong wins in their respective electorates.
“We have always had a belief that you put the region and the electorate first before party politics,” Mr Knuth said.
“We are very grateful to be back and serving the people of our electorates.”
Mr Knuth spent Saturday night watching the election unfold at the Innisfail Brothers Leagues Club.
“I did enjoy a few beers with my supporters,” he said.
“My first order of business will be having to send out thankyous to everyone who helped out and supported me during this campaign and then I will be having a zoom call with Nick and Robbie to discuss where we go from here.
“In the not too distant future, I will be putting on a thankyou BBQ for all those people that helped and supported me through the campaign, it was a long process with the pre-polling centres having extended hours.”
Australian Labor Party Candidate Michael Hodgkins received 19.8 per cent of the primary vote,
“I’m quite pleased with the numbers, especially when you look at the two-party preferred split.”
Mr Hodgkins puts Labor’s win across the state down to Queenslanders feeling safe during the COVID pandemic.
“I think people have felt very safe, there hasn’t been much negative impact from The Palaszczuk Governments handling of the pandemic,” he said
Mr Hodgkins said that even though he may have lost the seat there is still work that needs to be done.
“I feel I have started a conversation and a lot of people are interested in what I’ve got to say,” he said
“Some of the conversations that I’ve started to have with communities over the past few weeks, I want to continue to have.
“They're still a lot of things I would like to do and if I get an opportunity to do them as a resident or as a potential politician I will certainly continue to do the work that needs to be done.
“I also want to say thank you to my team who have been fantastic, I’m humbled by their support and the way they handled themselves.”
