Stephen Andrew, Glen Kelly face agonising wait to get answers in Mirani as One Nation struggles

The last Queensland MP to hold a seat for One Nation has said the party is becoming less relevant as he currently holds the lead to win it for the Katters instead.

KAPÃs Member for Mirani. Robbie Katter MP KAP Leader and Member for Traeger, Nick Dametto MP KAP Deputy Leader and Member for Hinchinbrook, Shane Knuth MP KAP Member for Hill, Stephen Andrew MP KAP Member for Mirani, Bob Katter MP KAP Federal Member for Kennedy address the media at SpeakerÃs Corner, outside Parliament House, Brisbane. The announcement of KAPÃs Member for Mirani. Picture: Nigel Hallett

A disendorsed One Nation MP won’t be unseated by his former party, as the race for Mirani hangs in the balance between the Katters and the LNP.

MP Stephen Andrew was dropped by One Nation just months out from the state election, and wasted no time in signing up with the Katter’s Australian Party, swelling their numbers to four in Queensland.

He was One Nation’s only sitting MP in Queensland.

And as One Nation is all but certain to lose in Keppel, contested by Pauline Hanson’s ex-chief of staff and supposed successor James Ashby, Mr Andrew said it shows the party has become “less relevant”.

“Look at the money spent in Keppel, the hardships the sitting member was going through and they couldn’t pull it off,” Mr Andrew said.

“Here I am in Mirani next door, without their brand or anything and still doing well. It goes to show the One Nation brand isn’t strong.”

Mirani MP Stephen Andrew at the Mackay Showgrounds pre-poll booth, spruiking his new team: Katter’s Australian Party. Picture: Paul Brescia

With 68 per cent of the vote counted in Mirani, Mr Andrew has pulled 27 per cent of the primary vote, behind Glen Kelly of the LNP on 35 per cent.

But Mr Andrew is still leading on preferences, just ahead at 50.53 per cent to 49.47 per cent.

He believes he’s done well considering he changed parties just before, even with an eight per cent swing against him.

Glen Kelly was with family and friends at Wests Tigers Walkerston on election night. Coming out of nowhere to secure 35 per cent of the vote is a huge achievement and a sign the LNP picked its candidate well. Photo: Fergus Gregg

Brettlyn ‘Beaver’ Neal was the One Nation candidate for Mirani, and pulled in 10 per cent of the primary vote. In the 2020 election, Mr Andrew won 31 per cent.

Party leader Robbie Katter said on Sunday that he believed it still possible the KAP could have up to five seats including Mirani, and with the potential possibility of Mulgrave falling their way.

KAP leader and member for Traeger Robbie Katter in Mount Isa for his 2024 State Election party. Photo: Joanna Giemza-Meehan.

While the KAP fell short in the seats they were aiming for, Mr Katter remained confident in holding Mirani because of the large flow of Labor preferences to be distributed which he believed would work in KAP’s favour.

Almost three quarters of the voters who picked Labor candidate Susan Teder have preferenced KAP over the LNP so far.

One Nation and the LNP both asked their voters to preference each other over KAP, which Mr Andrew called ‘duplicitous’.

He asked his voters to place One Nation second.

One Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson and the party’s Queensland leader James Ashby attend a press conference to declare their preferences in the upcoming state election, outside Parliament House in Brisbane. Picture: Dan Peled / NewsWire

Mr Andrew was asked how he would feel if that’s what lost him the election.

“Hopefully we won’t have to see that scenario.”

If the Katters win Mirani, they might be able to continue to march south.

“Katter’s brand isn’t as strong out here as the seat of Kennedy and out west,” Mr Andrew said.

“But if I get in this time it will open up a range of seats for the Katters to run in going forward.”