Katter’s Australian Party has claimed a third seat in Queensland’s Parliament, with Nick Dametto winning the seat of Hinchinbrook.
Mr Dametto has been named victor after preferences were distributed in the North Queensland seat.
Meanwhile, LNP incumbent Dale Last has retained his seat of Burdekin, with Labor’s Mike Brunker conceding defeat this morning.
Outgoing LNP Hinchinbrook MP Andrew Cripps confirmed that he had not been re-elected and blamed compulsory preferential voting for his loss.
“This state election was contested on new and very different boundaries for the Hinchinbrook electorate and it is the first since 1989 to be subject to compulsory preferential voting,” Mr Cripps said.
“Since 25 November, a large number of people in the Hinchinbrook electorate have contacted me, confused about the projected results indicating the Katter Party would win the seat.
“Their confusion is understandable, given that as the LNP candidate, I secured 2,200 more primary votes than One Nation and 2,500 more primary votes than the Katter Party.
“Some of these people are angry that they were forced to allocate preferences at a state election for the first time in more than 25 years, thanks to Labor and the Katter Party.
“On 21 April 2016, the Palaszczuk Labor Government, supported by the Katter Party, voted to reintroduce compulsory preferential voting for state elections in Queensland.
“Labor and the Katter Party consulted no-one on this change. Now a Katter Party candidate - who came third – has been elected in the Hinchinbrook electorate on Labor preferences.”
Mr Cripps thanked those in the electorate who supported him and said he would not be making further comment.