Maverick MP Bob Katter pushes ahead of LNP’s Annette Swaine

Member for Kennedy Bob Katter was destined to retain his seat this federal election in a crowded eight-candidate race.

Member for Kennedy Bob Katter is destined to retain his seat this federal election with the maverick MP pushing ahead of the LNP’s Annette Swaine in a crowded eight-candidate race.

Early counting on Saturday night showed the incumbent was likely to hold on with 41.18 per cent of the primary vote, with key pollsters tipping him to win over Ms Swaine (23.24 per cent), a former police officer, as of 10pm.

With more than 50,000 votes counted, the ALP’s candidate, Sharon Winn (16.5 per cent) was in third place on 9481 primary votes, with the Greens’ Carole Stanford (6.01 per cent) further behind with a tally of 3058 votes.

Trumpet of Patriots’ Mark Westcott (2.35 per cent), Family First aspirant Douglas Lush (1.88 per cent) and Independent Steven Clare (1.64 per cent) rounded out the race.

The Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) member has long been to tipped to see off his rivals with bookies pricing him at short odds on the eve of the election.

2025 Federal Elections Katter Party. Post polling day Katter Party members at Jam Restaurant in Townsville as the count begins. Bob celebrates with his supporters.

At deadline, Mr Katter, who celebrated 50 years in parliament last year, had earned a projected 3.6 per cent swing to the KAP.

“One election I thought I might win but every other one I’ve been in I’ve thought I’d lose,” he said prior to the vote being counted.

“I’ve been mostly around Cairns this week … but I’ve never been able to pick it.”

After having campaigned in Mareeba, Innisfail, Babinda, Mount Isa and Mission Beach this week, Ms Swaine said she initially felt a mood for change within the electorate.

“We’re neglected as an electorate,” she said. “That’s the message I kept getting from people. They were telling me this every day.”

The seat, which spans almost 570,000 square km, has been held by Mr Katter since 1993, after he ousted former Labor MP Rob Hulls, who served just one term.

Prior to Mr Hull, Mr Katter’s father, Bob Sr., held the seat for almost a quarter of a century.

The outback MP has pinned his hopes on a minority government for either major party, giving the crossbench greater influence.

“All I can do is hope and pray that it’s pretty close,” he said. “Piggy in the middle gets a lot of power if it’s close.”

Originally published as Maverick MP Bob Katter pushes ahead of LNP’s Annette Swaine