A Brisbane Labor-held seat and north Queensland Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) held-electorate should be abolished, an electoral review has proposed.
A further 48 seats are proposed to have moderate or significant changes to their boundaries, while two new electorates would be created in south-east Queensland.
The Queensland Redistribution Commission (QRC) conducted the review, the first since 2017.
It examined each seat to determine if it was out of quota, meaning there were too many or too few people living within the boundaries, or were projected to do so in the next seven years.
The QRC proposed axing Stretton in Brisbane’s south, represented by Labor’s James Martin, and Hill in north Queensland, held by KAP member Shane Knuth.
Shane Knuth, left, is a member of Katter’s Australian Party. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
It would be the third time Mr Knuth lost his seat through redistributions.
KAP leader Robbie Katter criticised the LNP in calling for Hill to be axed in its submission.
“It’s interesting that the only seat they truly abolished, they shuffled some around in Brisbane, the only one they truly abolished was the KAP seat in in north Queensland, which is extraordinary from a premier that claims to be from north Queensland.”
He said it would be up to Mr Knuth whether he wanted to run for another seat.
“Shane Knuth could throw at a dartboard blindfolded and pick a seat that way in Queensland, and he’ll win it if he chooses to.”
Stretton would be absorbed into neighbouring districts of Toohey and Algester to rebalance Brisbane’s south.
Mr Knuth is Queensland’s second-longest-serving state member, and said he “planned on fighting this through”.
“I’ve been a dead man walking for the last 20 years. I’ve survived 2 redistributions,” he said.
Mr Knuth wouldn’t say what seat he may run for in the next state election, if he nominated at all.
Nor would he rule out a federal politics tilt.
“You never know what the tide’s going to bring in and what’s just around the corner.”
Hill would be absorbed into surrounding seats of Mulgrave, Hinchinbrook, and Flinders.
The report said the proposed changes were “not made lightly”.
The rapid growth of south-east Queensland has prompted the review to recommend the creation of two new seats. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)
The rapidly growing Moreton Bay region would have a new seat created, named Caboolture, extending west from Pumicestone and up into Glass House.
A new seat of Springfield was proposed to alleviate pressure on the Logan and Ipswich regions.
LNP state director Ben Riley said the review had “seen Labor emerge with new seats in their heartland”.
“We will now take some time to assess what the creation of these new Labor seats means.”
In its submission, the LNP called for two new seats to be created in Caboolture and the Logan-Ipswich corridor.
Opposition leader Steven Miles said Labor would “be analysing the draft boundaries closely and voicing our concerns”.
Numerous name changes
The last electoral review saw 11 electorates renamed in favour of notable deceased Australians.
The QRC proposed renaming almost 20 electorates to instead reflect their location.
“We are of the view that voter recognition of an electorate’s location is essential.
“Electorate names which do not identify or suggest the location of an electorate are apt to cause unnecessary confusion.”
(Supplied: QRC)
Objections to the boundary changes can be made over the next month, with the redistribution expected to be finalised in June.
The new boundaries and districts will then take effect from the 2028 election.