Queensland’s Liberal National Party has claimed victory in the Hinchinbrook by-election in North Queensland. 

With most of the first preferences counted, the LNP’s Wayde Chiesa has more than 40 per cent of the vote and will go on to win the seat.

Premier David Crisafull spoke in Ingham just after 9.30pm.

“This place used to be called Katter country, it’s now Chiesa country,” Mr Crisafulli said.

Just before 9pm, the LNP had secured more than 40 per cent of the vote in what has been a very safe Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) seat.

You can get live results and commentary on the by-election here from ABC’s chief elections and data analyst Casey Briggs.

On the latest count, the ABC is projecting a swing toward the government of more than 16 per cent.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of KAP deputy state leader Nick Dametto, who left parliament to successfully contest the Townsville mayoral race.

The KAP now has 30.7 per cent of the preliminary count, with One Nation in third place at 13.48 per cent.

A woman in a purple tabard counting votes

More than 39,000 votes are expected in the Hinchinbrook by-election (ABC News: Chloe Chomicki)

Crime, crocs, and cane

The seat reaches far into cane and croc country, from Townsville’s northern suburbs to south of Tully, as well as Premier David Crisafulli’s hometown of Ingham.

The KAP was tipped to retain the seat — which it holds with a more than 13 per cent margin — with its new candidate, the former Townsville deputy mayor Mark Molachino.

Four men, one on blue shirt. Three have cowboy hats on

Mark Molachino (second from right) is a former deputy mayor of Townsville. (Supplied: Facebook )

The LNP, however, has run a series of attack ads highlighting Mr Molachino’s past membership of the Labor Party.

Mr Molachino has stressed his values no longer align with those of the ALP.

He has campaigned hard on the KAP’s so-called Castle Law bill.

The LNP received a little over 28 per cent of first preference votes in Hinchinbrook at the 2024 state election.

Wayde Chiesa, a childhood friend of the premier’s and rugby league caller, is contesting the seat for the LNP.

His main slogan has been “breach bail, go to jail”, promising to toughen bail laws for young offenders.

A man in a red shirt and a man in a white shirt, a lady in a blue shirt

ALP candiate Maurie Soars with Opposition Leader Steven Miles. (Supplied: Facebook )

Maurie Soars, who served on the Townsville council alongside Mr Molachino, is contesting the seat for Labor.

The ALP won just 14 per cent of first preference votes in Hinchinbrook at the state election last year.

Heated campaign

The outcome will make little difference to state parliament, where the LNP has a healthy majority.

The LNP has aggressively pursued the seat, to prove its popularity as a first term government.

The number of early voters has been high, with almost half of the expected ballots cast before Saturday, according to the Queensland Electoral Commission.

But as voters have streamed to pre-polling booths, tempers have flared.

Last week, the LNP released a video of the ALP candidate exchanging angry words with a Liberal staffer in Deeragun.

Meanwhile, the KAP has threatened legal action against Premier David Crisafulli over comments made comparing Mark Molachino to the disgraced former mayor Troy Thompson.