Queensland shooters have lost one of their most vocally pro-gun MPs, with Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) deputy leader Nick Dametto resigning not only as member for Hinchinbrook but from the party entirely as he gears up for a tilt at the Townsville mayoralty.
The previous mayor of Townsville, Troy Thompson, resigned last week in the midst of a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation relating to his military service and university qualifications claims.
In a shock announcement late last week, Mr Dametto — a keen shooter — said he was stepping down as an MP and resigning from KAP.
Mr Dametto reaffirmed his plans on Sunday, telling his supporters he was going all out on his bid for the mayor’s office.
“Make no mistake, I’m going all in on this one,” he said.
“I am stepping down from a safe state seat I love, I’m stepping down as the deputy leader of Katter’s Australian Party and handing in my party membership in an ‘all chips in’ bid to become the mayor that Townsville deserves.
“I believe there’s no room for politics in local government.”
While the sentiment from Townsville area residents is overwhelmingly positive online, Mr Dametto’s resignation does leave Queensland shooters without a key parliamentary voice.
Mr Dametto is a keen shooter and openly supports law-abiding firearms users, and has gone into bat for shooters in Queensland’s parliament on several occasions, including regularly asking questions on notice relating to firearms and Weapons Licensing Group matters.
Fortunately for Queensland gun owners, Mr Dametto is not the only pro-gun MP there, with others including KAP party leader Robbie Katter, KAP member for Hill Shane Knuth, and Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett also being openly supportive of shooters.
It is unclear at time of writing who will succeed Mr Dametto as KAP deputy leader.
The date for a by-election in Hinchinbrook is yet to be set, as are details of who KAP will run as a candidate there.
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