‘Shocked and ashamed’: Labor candidate threatens to ‘take out’ LNP volunteer

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Labor’s candidate for the Hinchinbrook byelection says he is ashamed of his behaviour at a polling booth, after a secret recording showed him threatening to “take out” an LNP volunteer during an altercation on Wednesday.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie used parliamentary privilege to accuse Maurie Soars of threatening to kill the volunteer at a north Queensland polling booth.

During question time on Thursday, Bleijie said the former Townsville councillor pushed the young volunteer.

“I’m just further advised that Mr Maurie Soars has just denied those allegations when asked by the media in the Hinchinbrook byelection,” he said.

“What Mr Soars doesn’t know is, I’ve seen the video.

“The video that I have seen clearly shows Mr Soars saying, ‘I’m going to take you out – that’s not a threat, that’s a promise’.

Labor candidate for Hinchinbrook Maurie Soars.

“So the question now for the opposition leader is, does he stand by his Labor candidate for Hinchinbrook’s threat to kill a young volunteer on an election booth?

“This is a test of leadership. Will he ask Labor’s candidate for Hinchinbrook to resign today?”

Bleijie did not table the video in parliament, but a copy was later obtained by this masthead.

In the vision, Soars is heard calling an LNP volunteer a “wanker” over an apparent dispute about a chair at the booth.

“Because I am actually 68 years of age and should have a chance to sit down,” he said, to which the LNP volunteer tells him to “calm down”.

Soars: “You calm down because I’m going to take you out.”

LNP volunteer: “You’re going to take me out – is that a threat?”

Soars: “No, it’s a promise.”

In a statement, Soars said he regretted his actions, but sought to provide more context around the altercation.

“I don’t recall saying that, and I’m shocked and ashamed of what I saw in that video,” he said.

“That young fella from Brisbane had been filming people and baiting me all morning.

“He’s been a real menace to everyone at the booth.

“He had just stepped on my foot and wouldn’t get out of my space, but I should not have taken the bait.”

At last year’s state election, Labor received just 14 per cent of the primary vote in Hinchinbrook, which takes in some of Townsville’s northern suburbs and the town of Ingham.

It was vacated by former Katter’s Australian Party member Nick Dametto, who resigned to run for Townsville mayor, an ultimately successful campaign.