Former MP from Katter’s Australian party claims victory in Townsville mayoral race after swing against former leader

Nick Dametto says he is proud to build the capital of northern Australia' after byelection triggered by resignation of controversial former mayor

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Townsville has voted decisively against its former controversial mayor and instead looks likely to elect a bodybuilding, bull-riding former state MP from the populist right in what has been described as one of the biggest swings in Australian electoral history.

Nick Dametto, 42, who was the deputy leader of Katter's Australian Party's and a Queensland parliamentarian before resigning and handing in his membership last month to run as an independent in Saturday's byelection, had received more than 61% of the vote as of Sunday, with just over 30% counted.