General News
8 July, 2026
Wiped out
STATE Member of Parliament Shane Knuth has vowed to keep fighting for communities in the north, despite his seat of Hill being abolished in the latest round of electoral redistribution.
In a strong attack on the Queensland Redistribution Commission – which announced its final decision to do away with Hill last week – Mr Knuth said the QRC ignored “overwhelming” public opposition by abolishing his electorate.
Mr Knuth has served as the member for Hill since the 2017 Queensland state election – ironically the electorate was created that year in a boundary redistribution.
“The QRC has made a shocking decision that weakens North Queensland’s voice in Parliament and sends yet another seat to South-East Queensland,” Mr Knuth said. “This is an appalling outcome and no matter how the QRC tries to explain it or how the LNP spins it in the media, the bare fact is that North Queensland loses a seat, which weakens our voice in parliament.” The abolition of the seat will take effect at the next Queensland state election in 2028.
Mr Knuth said the most galling aspect was that the LNP deliberately advocated for the abolition of Hill when, he says, there was a simple alternative.
“The LNP could have legislated to increase the number of seats in Parliament,” he said.
“That would have accommodated South-East Queensland’s population growth without robbing North Queensland of one of its valuable parliamentary voices.
“Instead, they chose the lazy option by sacrificing and betraying every North Queenslander.
“This should never be about party politics. It should be about standing shoulder to shoulder to defend North Queensland.
“When our region loses a seat, every single North Queensland MP loses influence.
“That’s one less voice fighting for our roads, hospitals, schools, agriculture, mining, tourism and regional jobs.”
There has been mixed reaction to the QRC decision from the communities affected.
Much of Hill will be swallowed up by the existing electorate of Hinchinbrook, including all of the Cassowary Coast region and Babinda, Bramston Beach, Mirriwinni and areas to the north right up to Gordonvale.
In a statement responding to the change of electorate boundaries, Cassowary Coast Mayor Teresa Millwood said council “will continue to advocate as one united region for a prosperous, resilient and vibrant future for the Cassowary Coast,” regardless of where electoral boundaries are drawn.
“While electoral boundaries may change, our community does not,” she said.
“The Cassowary Coast remains one region, with shared priorities, shared opportunities and a shared vision to be the most liveable tropical community.
“This change provides an opportunity to continue strengthening our advocacy for the services, investment and opportunities our communities need and deserve.
“Council will continue to work constructively with all levels of government to ensure the Cassowary Coast is well represented and that the priorities of our region remain clearly understood.”
Suzanne Russell, a former business chamber president who now heads the group Activ8 Innisfail, says the change of electorate is a positive move for the region.
“Activ8 Innisfail welcomes the merging of the Cassowary Coast region into one electorate as this will help the state government to see us better and address needs more cohesively,” Mrs Russell said.
“The job of representing this new electorate area will be a huge challenge for the MP for Hinchinbrook,” she said.
“The electorate will consist of several quite small towns, all relying on cane and bananas as the major industries. This includes quite a lot of tier 2 disadvantaged and above average welfare dependent communities.
“The electorate will have higher demand for funding on the government but without serious investment in FNQ, we’ll remain stuck in an Oliver Twist situation of only so much to share around.”
To the north of the expanded Hinchinbrook seat, however, where towns remain in the Cairns Regional Council catchment, there are strong feelings about being lumped into an electorate based a lot further south with little or no connection. The Babinda District Community Association’s submission to the QRC about the redistribution was vehemently opposed, not only to the abolition of Hill altogether, but also to the town becoming part of Hinchinbrook, and asked that it be included in the expanded seat of Mulgrave instead.
“Babinda acts as the key service and disaster management coordinator for the southern rural part of Cairns LGA during significant weather events (of which there are many),” the association (Taskforce)’s submission said.
Mr Knuth has held the seat of Hill for about nine years, but has been an MP for more 22 years – originally winning the seat of Charters Towers in February 2004 before representing Dalrymple and Hill.
He says he will take some time between now and when the 2028 election draws nearer, to consider if he’ll run again in one of the neighbouring seats that will merge from Hill.
The current Hill communities are being divided up and absorbed by Hinchinbrook, Mulgrave and the newly-named Flinders (currently Traeger).
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