Colourful characters vie to fill George Christensen’s big shoes

The contest to replace George Christensen is underway as an eclectic mix of candidates line up to fill his shoes.

Chris Bonanno will vie for LNP preselection in Dawson. Picture: Daryl Wright

The contest to replace George Christensen in the north Queensland seat of Dawson is under way as an eclectic mix of candidates line up to fill the shoes of one of Australia’s more controversial politicians.

Mr Christensen’s retirement announcement in April led to a handful of would-be MPs canvassing the support of fellow Liberal National Party members in branches from Mackay in the south of the electorate to Ayr in the north.

Three candidates remain in the race, with Whitsunday mayor Andrew Wilcox, former Mackay councillor Chris “Bananas” ­Bonanno and the relatively unknown Chas Pasquale to vie for pre­selection votes at an August 28 meeting.

The cast of colourful characters is hardly surprising, given the tendency of voters in regional Queensland to elect outspoken politicians with big personalities – such as Mr Christensen himself or his colleagues Bob Katter, Matt Canavan, Keith Pitt and Warren Entsch.

Former Queensland rugby league prop Martin Bella was one of the bigger names being urged to seek preselection but the two-term Mackay councillor did not nominate ahead of the deadline on July 13.

Michael Jones, chief executive of The Ville casino in Townsville was also eyeing off a tilt but pulled out in June.

Local branch sources said Mr Wilcox was seen as a frontrunner in the rural areas in the north of the electorate, but there was strong support for Mr Bonanno, who ran as the LNP’s candidate in the seat of Mackay at last year’s state election.

A former Mackay councillor, Mr Bonanno is known for his brightly coloured shirts and outgoing personality. He ran a local radio station before quitting to make his state bid and has since been working as a commercial real estate agent in Mackay.

Mr Wilcox, who lives in Bowen, between Mackay and Townsville, has been on the Whitsunday Regional Council since 2012 and was elected as mayor in 2016 and re-elected unopposed last year.

He is well regarded by both sides of politics in Queensland and has maintained a good relationship with the Labor state government, despite being on the other side of the political divide.

Mr Pasquale, who lives in Ayr, is a relatively unknown, even to long-time LNP members in the region.

The winning candidate will take on Labor’s Shane Hamilton.

Since announcing his retirement, Mr Christensen, 43, has reaffirmed his position in the face of persistent calls, including a petition, for him to stay. The four-term MP increased his margin in 2019 by 11.24 per cent.

Some within the LNP are worried the famously outspoken MP, who has been openly critical of the party since announcing his retirement, would continue to criticise it on his social media channels where he has a strong following.

“I don’t know whether he’ll go quietly or whether he will sit on the sidelines and snipe at the party,” one LNP MP said.