Katter’s Australian Party throws spanner in LNP’s north Qld plans

The LNP is at risk of losing seats to an ascendant Katter party, complicating the Opposition’s path to majority government.

Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter (left) with the party's Mundingburra candidate Michael Pugh. Picture: Evan Morgan

The LNP is at risk of losing Townsville seats to an ascendant Katter’s Australian Party, in significant turbulence for the Opposition’s path to majority government.

The race for the bellwether seat of Mundingburra – which helped deliver minority government to the LNP in a 1996 by-election – is now expected to become a three-cornered contest amid a major collapse in the Labor vote.

And some LNP insiders fear party HQ has left the attack on the KAP too late, with the Opposition launching aggressive advertising against the northern minor party just days ago — after a week of early voting had been under way.

Sources across all three parties confirmed the Labor vote in Townsville is expected to collapse to its lowest levels in recent memory.

The wipeout of all three Labor MPs — Scott Stewart in Townsville, Les Walker in Mundingburra, and Aaron Harper in Thuringowa — had long been predicted.

But the LNP does not have an easy road to a clean sweep, with Mundingburra at particular risk.

“The danger for us is that if Les Walker does so badly, and (KAP’s Michael) Pugh does better, then Labor’s preferences will go to the KAP, and (LNP candidate) Janelle Poole will be defeated,” an LNP source said.

The LNP began blanketing the region with aggressive attack advertising against the KAP only last Friday, according to Facebook data.

Its key target is Mr Pugh, who once used a sheathed bayonet in a home invasion while trying to collect a drug debt.

Mr Pugh narrowly avoided jail time after pleading guilty to stealing with violence and burglary in the early 2000s.

He apologised in June.

“At the time I took full responsibility for my actions, and I still do today,” he said.

But the LNP have decided to go after Mr Pugh’s criminal record, in social media advertising and letterbox drops.

Deputy Opposition Leader Jarrod Bleijie in Townsville this week. Picture: Liam Kidston

There is also a geo-targeted YouTube “American-style” attack ad which asserts, “Do you think the north should be represented by a criminal?” and “The Katter Party does because they selected a criminal candidate”.

The LNP’s candidate in Mundingburra, by contrast, is well-respected Queensland police officer Janelle Poole, who has served for 28 years.

The Opposition’s resident attack dog, deputy leader Jarrod Bleijie, was also sent to Townsville to deliver a blistering attack on Mr Pugh on Monday.

He went so far as to dub Mr Pugh “Troy Thompson 2.0” in a bid to equate him to the beleaguered Townsville Mayor alleged to have fabricated his army service history and education credentials.

Flyers sent to voters, seen by The Courier-Mail, all warn they “can’t trust Katter on crime”.

The LNP has also attempted to link the KAP to Labor, sending out spoof scratchies claiming voters stand to lose if they vote for the minor party.

The efforts have been noticed, though some in the LNP are concerned the pushback has come too late.

“There is massive disappointment up here that David Crisafulli hasn’t run hard against KAP all election,” a source said.

Labor, LNP and KAP sources confirmed support for the government had collapsed across Townsville.

KAP Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto

And while the LNP primary vote is up, the KAP ascendancy across the north Queensland capital could see a 2017-style come-from-behind win pulled off by Member for Hinchinbrook Nick Dametto.

Mr Dametto garnered just 20.9 per cent of the primary vote in 2017, but crucially pipped Labor for third position after its vote collapsed by 8 per cent.

The KAP MP was then carried into second spot behind the LNP by Labor preferences, before One Nation’s preference flow propelled him to the win.

Mr Dametto said it would be disappointing for the LNP to spend three terms in the wilderness, only to come back into government and be “led in the ballroom by the KAP”.

He confirmed the aggressive attacks against the KAP would make it harder for the LNP should they need the minor party’s help.

“It makes it very difficult for us to think of friendships… when it comes to going to the negotiating table,” Mr Dametto said.

The LNP needs to pick up 13 seats to govern in its own right, with expectations those seats should include all of Townsville, Barron River, Mackay, Rockhampton, Yeppoon, Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Caloundra, Nicklin, and Pumicestone.

Mansfield, Pine Rivers, Springwood and Macalister are also on the cards as historic change of government seats.

Originally published as Katter’s Australian Party throws spanner in LNP’s north Qld plans