LNP launches stunning question time attack on Katter's candidate over Labor ties

Queensland Parliament's question time has descended into chaos as ministers abandon policy scrutiny to target KAP candidate's political past.

Mark Molachino with Jenny Hill and Les Walker at a Team Hill party during a local government election.

The LNP has used question time to launch a stunning attack on Katter’s Australia Party Hinchinbrook candidate Mark Molachino over his former ties to Labor.

Corrective Services minister Laura Gerber asked Opposition leader Steven Miles if he was running two candidates in the by-election: the “Labor Labor candidate” and the “Katter Labor candidate”.

Ms Gerber tabled photos of Mr Molachino and Labor candidate Maurie Soars as proof they were “comrades in arms”.

The pair served together as councillors for Townsville City Council.

KAP candidate for Hinchinbrook Mark Molachino. Picture: Evan Morgan

Transport Minister Brent Mickleberg said he had proof that Mr Molachino “sided with Annastacia Palaszczuk’s values” and would table the “Molachino files”.

Other photos tabled during the four questions from LNP frontbenchers about Mr Molachino included him with Annastacia Palaszczuk and with Scott Stewart during his campaign for the seat of Townsville.

KAP leader Robbie Katter said it felt “pretty wrong”.

“We are supposed to be using question time to interrogate government policy and they just used it to try and smear candidates,” he said.

“It felt pretty wrong … I haven’t seen anything like this since the Newman period.”

Mr Katter said he appreciated the respectful response from Health Minister Tim Nicholls to his question regarding the progress of Charters Towers Hospital.

Originally published as LNP launches stunning question time attack on Katter's candidate over Labor ties