Election analysis: The powerplay that makes Katter Queensland’s kingmakers

One of Australia’s most stable and unified minor parties has showed its hand with a calculated declaration that could decide who becomes the next premier, writes Hayden Johnson.

Katter’s Australia Party leader Robbie Katter Picture : Nigel Hallett

• Katter ‘assures’ carnage for LNP

Minor parties position themselves as kingmakers every election - but this time it might be true.

Katter’s Australian Party, one of the most stable and unified minor parties in Australian politics, showed its hand this week with a calculated declaration to Labor and the LNP that it would seek to repeal abortion if just one of its four MPs are re-elected on October 26.

Beyond the attack on a Labor legacy, the move also aims to take votes from the LNP in key regional Queensland seats David Crisafulli needs to win.

Heading into the 2020 election, and even early on election night, KAP Leader Robbie Katter was being hailed as the man to decide the next premier.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli on week two of the election campaign. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Of course, Annastacia Palaszczuk up extending her margin of MPs, but they’re expected to be wiped out in little more than two weeks.

Come in Katter’s.

With a block of four MPs and an expectation it could grow to five, is this time shaping as the true powerbrokers of Queensland politics.

First on the agenda is abortion - but expect movement on crime and, possibly, a vote on separating Queensland.

Should Mr Crisafulli struggle to articulate a position on abortion, which critics argue is losing him votes daily, and Labor fails to win over weary Queenslanders - the power could rest in KAP’s hands.

It would be disastrous for the unity of the LNP.

Originally published as Election analysis: The powerplay that makes Katter Queensland’s kingmakers