The Kennedy electorate might seem to be Bob Katter's to lose but don't tell Labor candidate Brett McGuire.
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Though resident in Charters Towers - like Mr Katter himself - Mr McGuire's message to local voters is that he is one of them.
"I tell the voters the story of where I come from, I'm a western country boy from Julia Creek," Mr McGuire.
"I work in the mines - I'm an underground electrician, and that where I think I've got a link with the people of Mount Isa because I know what it's like to go deep down and work underground."
Mr McGuire said it didn't matter where he went in the 569,000 square kilometre electorate, many of the issues people brought up were very similar.
"Especially in Mount Isa I'm hearing about the casualisation of the workforce at the mines and how disappointing it is the major employers are not putting on full timers," he said.
"All your rights and entitlements come with being a full time employee.
"Banks will lend you money to buy a house or a car but with casuals you are not getting those guarantees and there is no job security."
Mr McGuire said if elected Labor would change some of the "dodgy labour hire" practices and make changes to the Fair Act to improve the system.
"The Labor Party are here to improve regional Queensland and regional Australia," he said.
"We've going to increase funding to the hospital system, we're going increase TAFE funding, we're not there giving tax breaks to the big multinational companies and the banks."
When asked about Mr Katter, Mr McGuire said he tried not to think about him.
"If I concentrate on how Bob Katter is doing I'm not concentrating on how I can improve things," he said.
"But I can say I'll be part of a party that can hold power."
When asked about travel around the vast electorate, he replied, "vast is an understatement."
"Three days ago I was in Innisfail, before that in the Tablelands and Yarrabah, then travelling through here for a few days then up around Doomadgee, Burketown and Normanton," he said.
There will be plenty more kilometres clocked up as the election winds down to May 18.
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
