Mark Molachino faces fresh questions over Labor Party allegiance
KAP’s Hinchinbrook candidate Mark Molachino has faced fresh questions, with resurfaced footage of him declaring the Labor Party “aligned most closely with his values”.
Unearthed footage of the Katter Australian Party’s candidate for Hinchinbrook professing his allegiance to the Labor Party has reignited debate about his suitability as a candidate.
Mr Molachino distanced himself from his prior Labor affiliation when he announced his candidacy for Hinchinbrook in early October. He had been a member of the KAP before his eight years on Townsville City Council , where he served as a member of Team Hill under Labor-aligned Jenny Hill and as deputy mayor.
However, in a video interview posted to YouTube for the “High Humidity - Nettie and Bunny’s Talk Back Show” in July 2020, then deputy mayor Mr Molachino said that Labor was the party that aligned most closely to his own beliefs.
In the interview, former KAP candidates and hosts Nanette Radeck and Brendan Bunyan quizzed Mr Molachino on his political views during a broader discussion about party politics.
Mr Molachino, a former RAAF operations officer , described himself in the newly resurfaced video footage as “centre-left”.
“Obviously, I’m a member of the Labor Party, yeah, absolutely,” Mr Molachino said in the resurfaced footage. “I don’t agree with everything Labor does, either, but they were the closest party that aligns to my values, that I grew up with.”
Quizzed further on his position, Mr Molachino described himself as “centre-left” , saying he would sit in the centre of the Labor Party.
“That’s where I sit on the spectrum, absolutely. I don’t support far-left policy at all.”
On Tuesday, following the footage resurfacing and amid comments questioning his bona fides as a KAP candidate, Mr Molachino responded. He said he had believed the Labor Party aligned with his values but that he would never be going back after leaving the party in 2024 following his defeat in the local government election.
“When I started my political career back in 2011, I joined the KAP for four or five years,” Mr Molachino said.
“When I got into council, I was not a member of any party for quite few years, but then I did join the Labor Party. I thought it had the values that were closely aligned with what I believe in.”
Mr Molachino said that the reality of what he described as “Brisbane party politics” and regional representation had driven him away.
“Once you’ve been in the belly of the beast, you soon realise that they don’t represent the values that you thought they did.
Queensland Minister for Integrity Deb Frecklington said the Katter’s campaign was in “tatters”.
“Katter’s big Labor bombshell will blow up the North Queensland campaign worse than anything seen before,” she said.
“The Katter’s campaign is in tatters because they’re now stuck with a Labor candidate who has admitted he’s Labor to the core.
Mr Molachino said Labor was a party that wanted head-nodders up in North Queensland.
“I’m never going back [to Labor]. I’m with the KAP until the day I die.”
Speaking in Townsville on Monday, Deputy Opposition Leader Cameron Dick said he would not like to see Mr Molachino re-join the Labor Party.
“Because he’s left our party and he’s decided to join another political party and we don’t want him back,” Mr Dick said.
“Absolutely not. We would not accept him. We will not accept him at all.”
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Originally published as Mark Molachino faces fresh questions over Labor Party allegiance
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