KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto reacts to backlash over Facebook post drinking on alcohol-restricted island

A North Queensland MP is being investigated after posting photos of himself and a group drinking with on an island with strict alcohol regulations, which he says are “draconian and racist”.

KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto posted photos of himself and a group drinking on Curacoa Island, which is part of the Palm Island group. Palm Island has strict alcohol regulations.

A North Queensland MP’s antics are under investigation by police after he posted photos of himself drinking on an island with strict alcohol regulations.

KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto said it was an oversight and that he believed the regulations were “draconian and racist”.

The avid boatie posted a series of photos to Facebook on April 18, showing him spending Good Friday with a group of people at the beach on the uninhabited Curacoa Island, one of the islands in the Palm Island group.

Queensland Police said on Tuesday that they were aware of the incident and the matter was “under investigation.”

No charges have been laid, nor any action taken.

Palm Island was placed under alcohol restrictions, introduced in 2006.

Changes to the plan came in 2019 and are currently that the maximum amount of alcohol a person can carry in the restricted area is 11.25 litres per person or per vessel, and any liquor must be a concentration of less than 4 per cent.

The drink Mr Dametto is pictured with is a Great Northern, which has an alcohol percentage of 4.2 per cent.

Mr Dametto said he was unaware of the time of the alcohol management plan in place and called out the “outdated” restrictions that cover the island group.

KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto posted photos of himself and a group drinking on Curacoa Island, which is part of the Palm Island group. Palm Island has strict alcohol regulations.

“As someone who has lived and grown up on the mainland, we know that Palm Island itself and the community definitely has alcohol restrictions,” he said.

“I did not have any idea, most of those people didn't have any idea, that the outlying islands were included.

“Especially when places like Pelorus and Orpheus Island, which are right next door, are excluded.”

With luxury accommodation attracting many tourists, Orpheus Island is exempt from the alcohol restrictions

He said the alcohol regulations needed to be better signposted in the areas where alcohol is restricted.

“We have a fantastic way of displaying the dangers of crocodiles all the way around the Australians and Queensland coastline, but if there is something as important as this happening on any of those islands, I think it would be a good idea to signpost that information,” Mr Dametto said.

After posting the photo Mr Dametto said he received messages and comments both agreeing and disagreeing with his actions.

“There’s been a number of reactions after posting that photo on Curacoa Island,” he said.

“One, those people that didn’t understand or even know that there was an alcohol management plan that extended to those outlying islands.

“Secondly, people that actually live on Palm Island aren’t happy living under an alcohol management plan and don’t want to see a double standard, which has left me reflecting on whether or not this is an outdated policy or not.”

Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto in state parliament.

Several people from the community commented on the post, calling out Mr Dametto for drinking on the island, with one saying “glad to see you abided by the alcohol management plan for that island group …”

Mr Dametto said he understood the plan was brought in by the government to “control behaviours” but questioned if it was working to kerb behaviours and the sale and supply of alcohol.

“It’s 2025 and we are still treating Indigenous Australian’s differently to non-Indigenous Australians based on their geographical location,” he said.

“We need to have a better look at whether or not the prohibition on the sale of possession of higher end beers or spirits is actually working.

“Talking to people that live and work on Palm Island they will tell you sly-grogging is still rife.”

Sly grog refers to the sale of alcohol without a license or permit, for which the maximum penalties can exceed $60,000.

Police on Palm Island seized 200 litres of alcohol in 2023, including 50, 4L wine casks, five bottles of spirits and two four-packs of vodka Cruisers which was to be sold illegally, during a routine search of the ferry from Townsville.

Mr Dametto said he believed residents of Palm Island were not being “treated like adults on the mainland.”

“If we are talking about draconian, racist legislation or regulation, I think you can point to this alcohol management plan,” he said.

“In this day and age when we are aiming for equality and a fair day for all Queenslanders, I think it is outdated.”

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, leader of the KAP Robbie Katter said being unable to have a “quiet beer” on a North Queensland beach was “outrageous”.

“I said it first back in 2018, First Nations Australians are still being treated differently to everyone else in Queensland. And he we are, seven years later, nothing’s changed,” he said in the post.

“This isn’t about health or safety anymore, it’s red tape and double standards. And it’s time we fixed it.”

The Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council was contacted for comment.

Originally published as KAP Deputy Leader Nick Dametto reacts to backlash over Facebook post drinking on alcohol-restricted island