Indigenous leader walks out of debate after KAP party candidate reveals One Nation preference deal

A minor party’s preference deal with One Nation has not been well received by voters attending a debate in an Indigenous community in Far North Queensland.

Katter's Australian Party candidate for Mulgrave Steven Lesina participates in a Q&A session at the 2024 Meet the Candidates: State Election Forum Lunch, hosted by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Tropical North Queensland at the Pullman Reef Hotel Casino. Picture: Brendan Radke

A minor party’s preference deal with One Nation has not been well received by voters attending a debate in a remote Indigenous community in Far North Queensland.

Eight of Mulgrave’s 10 candidates visited the coastal town of Yarrabah, south of Cairns, last Thursday with around 20 guests encouraged to ask questions of each of the political aspirants during the debate.

The inquiries were well generally received until the conversation turned to preferences, with Katter’s Australian Party candidate Steven Lesina indicating that he would be putting One Nation’s Michael McInnes after his name on the ballot.

Former Yarrabah Aboriginal Regional Council mayor Percy Neal. Picture: Brian Cassey

The KAP has agreed to preference One Nation first in all 10 electorates where its candidates are running.

But the revelation prompted former Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council Mayor Percy Neal to stand up from his seat and deliver an impassioned speech against the controversial minor party, which was launched by party leader Pauline Hanson in 1997.

It’s understood that Mr Neal, who couldn’t be reached for comment on Monday, left the event soon after.

But Mr Lesina said he hoped to break bread with the community leader soon.

“I haven’t had a chance to catch up with him since but I know that he was pretty upset,” he said.

“I’ve spoken to Percy previously and felt that we got on pretty well. I just think his issue is with One Nation.”

Yarrabah from above. Picture: Alamy escape

This election will be critical for Yarrabah, with the community battling overcrowding, serious water security concerns and a reported unemployment rate of 45 per cent according to data from Jobs and Skills Australia released in December 2023.

“We just want to do what’s right for the community,” Mr Lesina said.

“I said, ‘I want your first preference but you can choose who you vote for second and that’s democracy’.

“It’s about what the people want and need and right now housing, water and crime are big issues out there at the moment.”

Of the two major parties, Labor’s Richie Bates has put One Nation last while the LNP’s Terry James has One Nation fourth on the ballot.

It’s been a difficult week for One Nation, who disendorsed its Chatsworth candidate, Jasmine Harte, after it was revealed that she was accused of attempted murder 13 years ago, before the charges were later dropped.

The party’s candidate for Mulgrave, Michael McInnes, did not attend the debate.