Where to vote: Hinchinbrook goes to the polls this Saturday

Hinchinbrook is going to the polls this Saturday. Here is your quick guide to early voting locations, where you can vote on election day, and who you’ll see on the ballot.

Hinchinbrook residents go to the polls on Saturday, November 29

Hinchinbrook is going to the polls this Saturday. Here is your quick guide to early voting locations, where you can vote on election day, and who you’ll see on the ballot.

Former Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto (centre) is sworn in as the new Townsville mayor. Mr Dametto resigned from state parliament to run for the mayoral job, triggering this by-election. Picture: Evan Morgan

Election day voting (all locations open 8am - 6pm)

Lower Tully

Lower Tully State School

Murray River Upper State School

Cardwell

Kennedy State School

Cardwell State School

Ingham

QCWA Abergowrie

Coast Guard Building (Lucinda)

Macknade State School

Halifax State School

Victoria Plantation State School

Trebonne State School

Forrest Beach State School

Toobanna State School

Conroy Hall (Ingham)

Balgal Beach/ Bluewater

Rollingstone State School

Bluewater State School

North Shore

North Shore State School

St Clares Catholic School - Recreation Hall

Deeragun

Northern Beaches State High School

St Anthony’s Catholic College Assisi Campus

Alice River

Alice River Community Centre

Early voting

Early voting is possible at two locations:

Ingham

TYTO Conference and Events Centre 8am - 6pm

Deeragun

Deeragun Shopping Village (Coles) 8am - 6pm

Who are the candidates?

SEE THE BALLOT ORDER

Liberal National Party

The LNP held the Hinchinbrook electorate between 2008 and 2017 with MP Andrew Cripps who brought the electorate into the fold when his party, the Nationals, was combined with the Liberals to create the LNP in 2008.

(L-R) Police Minister Daniel Purdie and candidate for the Hinchinbrook by-election, Wayde Chiesa, outside the Deeragun police station. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Running for the LNP this by-election is Wayde Chiesa, a former CEO of Regional Development Australia Townsville and North West Queensland, chartered accountant, and was raised in Ingham.

The LNP currently control the Queensland parliament with 52 seats and is headed by Ingham-born premier David Crisafulli.

Katter’s Australian Party

Katter’s member Nick Dametto has held the Hinchinbrook seat since 2017, a total of eight years.

Dametto resigned from state parliament in 2025 and successfully ran to become the Mayor of Townsville, triggering this by-election.

(L-R) Hinchinbrook Katter Party candidate Mark Molachino with Leader of Katter's Australian Party, Robbie Katter at Lees Hotel in Ingham. Picture: Evan Morgan

Running for the Katters is Mark Molachino, a former RAAF serviceman and Townsville City deputy mayor who was also raised in Ingham.

There are currently only two other Katter MPs in the Queensland parliament, Robbie Katter who represents most of north-west Queensland, and Shane Knuth who represents Hill on the Atherton Tablelands.

If Molachino is elected the Katters will solidify their place as the most powerful third party in the Queensland parliament, recreating their North Queensland voting block.

Labor

Labor held the seat of Hinchinbrook from 1950 to 1960 with MP Cecil Jesson, but has never won it back.

Maurie Soars pictured during his time as a Townsville City councillor. Picture: Leighton Smith.

Running for Labor this by-election is Maurie Soars, a former Townsville councillor and long-term Bushland Beach resident.

Labor currently holds the largest second majority in Queensland parliament with 35 seats and is headed by former premier Steven Miles.

The minors

You will also see four minor party/independent candidates on the ballot paper

- Steven Claire, Independent candidate who previously ran for One Nation in the Thuringowa electorate

- Aiden Creagh, Greens candidate who works as a sugar train driver

- Amanda Nickson, Family First candidate and pastor who “puts Christian faith and beliefs at the core” of what she does

- Luke Sleep, One Nation candidate who works as a coal miner

Originally published as Where to vote: Hinchinbrook goes to the polls this Saturday