Newsroom

November 17, 2025

It’s amazing what 24 days and a by-election can do!  Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) leader and Member for Traeger, Robbie Katter said, while in Townsville.

The KAP leader reflected on the news that the Government has finally announced, albeit minimal, progress to address the chaotic traffic afflicting the residents of the Northern Beaches.

“24 days ago, I stood side by side with Mark Molachino, our KAP Hinchinbrook Candidate, and the Federal Member for Kennedy as traffic crawled passed the Northern Beaches Intersection, declaring that the KAP saw this debacle as a prime priority,” the KAP Leader said.

“Unlike the Government, who pulled any funding at the last state budget and removed the project from the QTrip priority list, the KAP with Mark Molachino, picked up the mantle from Nick Dametto who fought so hard as the KAP Member to see this project completed.

“24 days later, desperate to look like they care, the Government parachutes another minister to announce some more planning – another ‘maybe!’  It’s all a distraction from talking about Castle Law.

“We need more than plans, although that’s a great step.  We’ve seen plans before, but now we need action.  Action that will cut travel times and floodproof the main link to Townsville for the voters of Hinchinbrook.

“We really must question, why did the Government ignore the people of the Northern Beaches in June at Budget time, yet miraculously pull a rabbit out of a hat come by-election time.  The Government are playing political games, and it’s hurting those who must sit in traffic for an hour each way, just to get to work and home again,” Mr Katter said.

The KAP Candidate for Hinchinbrook Mark Molachino said he was pleased to see the Government finally waking up to the desperate need for action, but said residents needed a strong thorn in the Government’s side to see progress turn into real action.

“It’s clear the Government have been brought to this announcement kicking and screaming – it wasn’t on their priority list in June at budget time, but now they want to look like they’re going to do something,” Mr Molachino said.

“I’m proud to have rejected Brisbane’s LNP and Labor and am running with North Queensland’s own party that clearly gets it done.

“The people living in the Northern Beaches and Deeragun deserve fit for purpose roads and infrastructure, not traffic gridlock caused by inaction from both Brisbane major parties,” he said.

The KAP Leader reiterated that the Government must stop playing silly games and come clean on the real issues that Queenslanders are calling out for.

The Government is doing everything in its power to avoid talking about Castle Law, and allowing people to once again feel safe in their home, and we still haven’t heard from the LNP Candidate if he agrees with his Brisbane puppet masters’ plan to abolish the North Queensland seat of Hill, and give Brisbane yet another voice to State Parliament, the KAP Leader said.