MINISTER FOR MUSCLES
Hinchinbrook hulk stands by ‘ guns’ policy
BUFF Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto is not backing away from flaunting his flex appeal on social media. It has been almost a year since Mr Dametto ( pictured) copped a warning from the clerk for taking revealing selfies in the State Parliament gym and posting them online.
“I’ve stayed away from taking photos in ( the parliament gym) since but I’ve slipped a few per- sonal ones in there,” the “minister for muscles” said.
“Look, you’ve still gotta be you; people elected me for the person I am.”
IT’S been almost a year since “nipplegate” hit State Parliament and thrust Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto into the national spotlight.
The Katter’s Australian Party MP posted selfies from inside the State Parliament gym, and while he received a “very stern warning” from the clerk for taking photos in a location off limits to media at the time, it seems Mr Dametto is still a fan of getting the guns out on Instagram.
“I’ve stayed away from taking photos in ( the parliament gym) since but I’ve slipped a few personal ones in there,” the MP said.
When he first made the move into politics, he said he “tossed back and forth” about whether or not to tone down his Instagram profile where he’s posted gym selfies from his bodybuilding days since 2012.
“Look, you’ve still gotta be you; people elected me for the person I am,” Mr Dametto said.
“It was interesting at first because when you’re thrust into a role like this you think ‘ how am I supposed to project myself to the public?’ but if I’m not going to be me who would I be?”
When it comes to 2018: The Best of Nick Dametto so far, he had trouble narrowing down his favourite photo.
“They’re all favourites; I love when you look at Instagram and scroll down your homepage and it becomes a tapestry of memories,” Mr Dametto said.
“It’s a collage of the past 12 months … you think ‘ wow that happened’. It’s a pictorial diary.”
While he proudly admits his “Instagram game is very strong”, he did divulge a few Katter party secrets.
“Bob doesn’t run his own Instagram account … he actually has an old Samsung flip phone,” Mr Dametto said. “And Robbie gets a good laugh out of ( my Instagram).
“He often heads down to the boxing gym and gets on the treadmill and rower … he’s more into the cardio and I take the weights.”
Traeger MP Robbie Katter said it was “commendable” his colleague never changed who he was when he made the move to politics.
“With that said, I admit some of the Member for Hinchinbrook’s gym photos have put a bit heat on Shane ( Knuth) and myself to hit the pool and the gym more often,” Mr Katter said. “We’ll keep at it but for now we’re going to stick to the looser- fitting tops.”
I’ve stayed away from taking photos in ( the parliament gym) since but I’ve slipped a few personal ones in there. NICK DAMETTO