LNP deputy confusion: from 'no doubt' to 'not sure'

Queensland's bench-warming opposition leader Jeff Seeney has backed away from claims he would become deputy premier to Campbell Newman if the Liberal National Party wins the next election.

The confusion over the leadership team is another unwanted distraction for the opposition, which is orchestrating an audacious bid to install the Brisbane Lord Mayor as its leader in waiting.

Change of stance ... Above: The section of Jeff Seeney's website discussing his future as it appeared yesterday. Below: As it appears today.

On his website, Mr Seeney spruiked Cr Newman's decision to quit his council post so he could lead the LNP to the election from outside the Parliament.

“If successful there will be No Doubt that Campbell Newman will be the Premier, and there will be No Doubt that I will be Deputy Premier,” Mr Seeney wrote.

However, Mr Seeney's website has been amended following overnight media reports highlighting how the message contrasted with Cr Newman's reluctance to name his deputy.

Cr Newman has refused to say who his deputy would be, saying it would be decided by the LNP party room after an election.

Mr Seeney's updated website message said there would be no doubt that Cr Newman would be premier and he would “be happy to serve in any position within the new government”.

The Bligh Government, which is now behind the polls to a Cr Newman-led opposition, is seeking to sow doubt in voters' minds over the unorthodox leadership arrangements.

The government has questioned who would on take the senior roles, and Treasurer Andrew Fraser last week lampooned the opposition leadership as a “two-headed beast”.

Mr Seeney told brisbanetimes.com.au this morning he had changed his website so it wouldn't distract from the main battle between Cr Newman and Premier Anna Bligh.

“[I changed the wording] because I don't want there to be any confusion – this is a contest between Campbell Newman and Anna Bligh,” he said.

He said the Bligh Government would try to confuse the issue.

Nobody can [say who would be deputy premier]. It's a question for the party room.

Mr Seeney would not say whether he still wanted to be deputy premier, insisting he would be happy to serve in any role.

“Nobody can [say who would be deputy premier]. It's a question for the party room,” he said.

He denied he had been asked by anyone to change his website.

Cr Newman, at a media event this morning, would not name his deputy and focused on the choice between him and Ms Bligh.

“I don't spend my time trawling through websites,” he said of Mr Seeney's online comments.

Cr Newman, who is set to be preselected in the Labor-held seat of Ashgrove on Sunday, vowed to tour Queensland because people needed to get to know him.

“I know Mackay very well but Mackay doesn't know me,” he said.

The leadership confusion came as federal independent MP Bob Katter criticised state opposition MPs, labelling them “dummies” and “rubber stamps” for Cr Newman.

Mr Katter said he was concerned about Cr Newman's bid to render current LNP policies “null and void” and introduce new ones once he is endorsed by the party.

He wished Cr Newman well but said LNP politicians had been reduced to “laughable rubber stamps” by rolling over and accepting Mr Newman's decision to junk all their policies.

“To see some very decent people in the state house reduced to laughing stocks and rubber stamps and intimidated by their own party, that's not fair and that's not good government,” Mr Katter told reporters in Brisbane yesterday.

Cr Newman and Mr Seeney refused to comment on the remarks today. However, Cleveland MP Mark Robinson said had no issue with a “strong” leader wanting to shape policies.

“I don't believe there is a total clean slate and we're starting from scratch; I think he wants to look at all the policy areas [and review them],” Dr Robinson said.

State Parliament resumes next week.

- with Georgia Waters and AAP