May 28, 2014
The strong hints that Katter’s Australian Party parliamentary leader Ray Hopper was dropping earlier this year were confirmed today … he will challenge LNP member Deb Frecklington in the State seat of Nanango at the next election.
Speculation Mr Hopper was eyeing off the seat erupted in January after some exchanges between the pair in State Parliament.
Mr Hopper told Mrs Frecklington there were “a few surprises in store for her, believe you me”.
Mr Hopper has been a member of Queensland’s Legislative Assembly since 2001.
He was originally elected as an Independent member for the now-abolished seat of Darling Downs.
He joined the National Party later that year, and then transferred to the Liberal National Party in 2008.
Mr Hopper won the newly created seat of Condamine for the LNP at the 2009 election, taking 61.6 per cent of the two-candidate-preferred vote.
In November 2012, he defected from the LNP to join Katter’s Australian Party, becoming KAP’s parliamentary leader five days later.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney told the ABC today Mr Hopper stands no chance of winning Nanango.
“Ray Hopper will get a bigger flogging in Nanango than he would have got in Condamine,” he said.
“I don’t think Deb Frecklington, who is probably one of the best regional members in the Parliament, has anything to worry about with Ray Hopper.”
Mrs Frecklington is being sworn in at 2:30pm today as Assistant Minister to the Premier. She was on her way to Government House and was not available to comment.
However when southburnett.com.au raised the possibility of Mr Hopper challenging for the seat earlier this year, her only comment was “Bring it on!”.
According to his Parliamentary biography, Mr Hopper was born at Jandowae in 1960, is married and has three children.
He is a qualified butcher, licensed dogger, dairy farmer, first Officer of the Cooranga North Rural Fire Brigade and an announcer at the Bell Rodeo. His interests include rodeos, horse training, shooting, farming and family.
He recently purchased a property at Kilcoy, in the Nanango electorate.
The next State Election is due in March next year.
[UPDATED]
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