Predictions ahead of Saturday’s by-election in the North Queensland seat of Hinchinbrook generally hinted the seat would be retained by Katter’s Australian Party (KAP). The LNP mounted a vigorous campaign, but in a time when voters seemed attracted to alternatives to the major parties, the collective wisdom was that KAP would retain Hinchinbrook.
The by-election had been caused by the resignation of KAP’s Nick Dametto, MLA for the seat since 2017. Dametto resigned to contest the election as mayor of Townsville and won easily with 61.5%