General News
4 July, 2026
Electorate of Hill wiped out
FEDERAL MP Bob Katter has described the abolition of the seat of Hill, held by his party colleague Shane Knuth, as “a black day for North Queensland”.
“The abolition of the electorate of Hill is nothing short of a betrayal of every family, farmer, miner, every small business and every community that calls the north home,” he said.
“Don’t let anyone tell you this was unavoidable. It wasn’t.
“The Queensland Government had the power to increase the number of seats in Parliament to reflect South-East Queensland’s growth. Instead, they took the easy road and stole one from the Far North. Brisbane gets another seat. North Queensland loses one.
“That tells you everything you need to know about where this government’s priorities lie.
“Shane Knuth MP is one of the finest members of parliament Queensland has ever had and that I have ever had the honour of working alongside.
“Every North Queenslander should be angry,” Mr Katter said.
Mr Knuth told ABC Radio that the changes were a “disgrace for north Queenslanders”.
“It’s nothing but a political hit job,” he said.
“This is a big slap in the face for north Queensland, where we’re seeing 13 seats in north Queensland reduced to 12.”
Mr Knuth said he had not yet decided whether to run in a neighbouring electorate.
The Queensland Redistribution Commission’s final report absorbs the Tablelands electorate of Hill and Brisbane-based electorate of Stretton into neighbouring divisions.
There are two new electorates – Caboolture and Springfield – both in South East Queensland.
Hinchinbrook has included all of Cassowary Coast and Babinda in a coastal electorate from the northern suburbs of Townsville to Gordonvale, involving four local government areas.
The Mount Isa-based electorate of Traeger will be renamed Flinders and cover southern Tablelands communities of Herberton, Ravenshoe, Malanda and Millaa Millaa.
More to come on line and in next week’s Observer
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