Clynton Hawks, 22, has been announced as the Katter's Australian Party candidate for the federal seat of Herbert.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Hawks will be challenging for the Townsville-based seat with current Liberal MP Phillip Thompson and ALP candidate John Ring.
The transport operator has lived in Townsville for the best part of a decade and said his work experience had given him an intimate understanding of North Queensland's economy
Issues he will be fighting for in the upcoming federal election include water security in northern Australia, a better freight system, the establishment of local, generational manufacturing, and for greater national security.
"I would like to run in Herbert because it's my home," he said.
"I have built a life here. I believe Herbert deserves a politician that works for them not the party room.
"The current Member for Herbert is too busy playing party politics against local and state governments to worry about the big picture.
"We need better forward planning for our city's growth alongside the three other feeder towns of Charters Towers, Ingham, and Ayr."
At the 2019 federal election, the LNP's Phillip Thompson received 34,112 votes, unseating the ALP's Cathy O'Toole with 23,393 votes.
One Nation's Amy Lohse tallied 10,189 votes and KAP candidate Nanette Radeck had just over 9000 votes.
KAP president Chris Carney said minor parties would play a major role in the upcoming federal election, with pundits predicting a possible hung parliament, and polling showing significant support away from Labor and the LNP.
"A vote for a minor party is not a wasted vote, in fact the people of Townsville could hold the balance of power after this election," he said.
"A handful of votes could change the nation. Clynton is level-headed, knowledgeable and will serve the people of Herbert well if he's elected as their representative."
KAP leader Robbie Katter said the party had selected a candidate who was community orientated.
"The thing I like about Clynton is that he is down-to-earth, connected with real world problems, and not out of a political factory that the major parties tend to source their candidates from," he said.
"The KAP has been successful because our MPs are ordinary, hardworking people.
"Shane Knuth was a fettler in the railways and Nick Dametto worked his own tourism business as well as in the mines, which my father did as well."
In his spare time Mr Hawks enjoys camping, four-wheel-driving and volunteering for the Alice River Community Association.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
Bookmark https://www.northweststar.com.au/
Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Google News