BRISBANE - Katter's Australian Party (KAP) has left a disgraced former candidate out of its Queensland "shadow cabinet" after he was fined over a chainsaw attack on election signs.
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Cairns doctor Damian Byrnes was fined $1000 on Wednesday for his involvement in wilfully damaging election signs for Labor councillors in April last year.
Dr Byrnes was named on a draft list of volunteers that will form the party's shadow cabinet, but was excluded from the official list of 21 members released yesterday.
State leader Ray Hopper says his party has now become the "real opposition" in Queensland.
The party was forced to bring volunteers in from outside parliament because the government had denied it official party status and the funding that is associated with it, he says.
In a bizarre press conference on Wednesday, the "shadow cabinet" was announced, with its members standing behind KAP's three sitting Queensland MPs - Mr Hopper, Rob Katter and Shane Knuth.
However, the party refused to name the team, saying they wanted to "drip feed" the media to ensure prolonged coverage.
Mr Hopper also refused to answer questions about Dr Byrnes, except to tell journalists he wasn't the party's health spokesman. The denial came despite Dr Byrnes earlier telling reporters he was, and a draft list identifying him as such.
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk described the move as a "stunt".
KATTER'S AUSTRALIAN PARTY SHADOW CABINET
* Science, IT and Arts: Community newspaper owner Barry Searle
* Attorney-General and Justice: Commercial lawyer Michael Bates
* Natural Resources and Mines: Small business owner Jeff Knuth
* Local Government: Former Isaac councillor Rob Williams
* Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services: Youth Worker Ashley Dodd
* Police and Community Safety: Former policeman Rob Wardrop
* National Parks, Recreation, Sport and Racing: Camp drafter Lachlan Bensted
* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs: Former Maryborough councillor Les Muckan
* Transport and Main Roads: Train Driver Dean Fisher
* Education, Training and Employment: Construction worker Sarah Henry
* Housing and Public Works: Grocery store owner Gordon Dale
* Energy and Water Supply: ETU representative Adam Hollis
* Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry: Former Australian Test Cricketer Carl Rackemann
* Leader of Opposition: Condamine MP Ray Hopper
* Leader of House: Dalrymple MP Shane Knuth
* Treasury and Trade: Mount Isa MP Rob Katter
* Environment and Heritage Protection: Small business owner Luke Hargreaves
* State Development, Infrastructure and Planning: Mine worker Mark Molocino
* Health: Registered nurse Lynne Bishop
* Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and Commonwealth Games: Small business owner Keith Douglas
* State Union Liaison Officer: Prison guard Belinda Johnson.
(Source: Katter's Australian Party)
