By Daniel Hurst
Former opposition leader Jeff Seeney has been endorsed as the interim Liberal National Party leader at a party room meeting this evening, with shadow treasurer Tim Nicholls as his deputy.
Shadow transport minister Fiona Simpson also challenged for the leadership, but lost the ballot. The LNP has not released the final vote.
John-Paul Langbroek fronts the media at Redland Bay today.Credit: Photo: Chris McCormack of Bayside Bulletin
John-Paul Langbroek this morning announced he will stand aside as opposition leader for the good of Queenslanders, following Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman's decision to switch to state politics.
Deputy LNP leader Lawrence Springborg has also stepped down from his position.
Mr Seeney promised to vacate the leadership after the next Queensland election, allowing Cr Newman to take over if he wins preselection for the state seat of Ashgrove.
Mr Seeney said he would occupy the opposition office in the meantime and carry out the opposition’s attacks in State Parliament.
Cr Newman would be the opposition leader for election campaign purposes and participate in election debates, make public announcements and have his own campaign office.
“I think Campbell’s in it for Queensland and I’m with Campbell all the way,” Mr Seeney said. “Campbell has made a huge contribution to getting rid of this government.
“I’m prepared to make a big commitment to support Campbell to get rid of this government.”
Mr Seeney said he would appoint the shadow ministry as the parliamentary leader but would consult with all of his colleagues and Cr Newman in the process.
“Campbell Newman will be the leader of the Liberal National Party election team so he will have a say in all of the election messages,” Mr Seeney said.
He said the unusual arrangement represented “a very rare opportunity” to bring someone of Cr Newman’s experience and capability into State Parliament.
“Anything that doesn’t have a lot of precedents is of course high-risk but I think the requirement of getting rid of Labor government that has so clearly failed ... is worth the effort.”
Asked when he first started having discussions about Cr Newman’s potential switch to state politics, Mr Seeney said: “Quite frankly, that’s none of your business.”
Mr Seeney insisted the party would not have the same problems it had in the 2006 election campaign explaining who would be premier in the event of a victory.
Before the LNP was formed and the Liberal and National parties served in a coalition, then-Nationals leader Lawrence Springborg and Liberal leader Bruce Flegg stumbled in explaining who would be premier depending on the number of seats won.
“There will be no question at all that Campbell Newman will be the alternative premier that the LNP will offer to the people of Queensland,” Mr Seeney said.
“We will take whatever steps are necessary to ensure there is no confusion in the public’s mind.”
Mr Seeney said it was “getting into silly stuff” to suggest the LNP might win the election with Cr Newman losing in Ashgrove, leaving the party stranded on the question of who would be premier.
He tried to draw parallels with the potential outcome of any other election.
“If a party is successful and the particular leader of the party is not successful in that election then the issue is resolved in the party room,” he said.
Aidan McLindon, who quit the LNP to form his own minor party last year, said the developments were “bizarre”.
Mr Langbroek said it had been a privilege to serve as LNP leader and said he would contest the next election as a backbencher.
"It's a treacherous business and just what comes with politics," he said.
Both Mr Langbroek and Mr Springborg said they would support the party's election campaign but neither would serve on the shadow cabinet.
They were reluctant to comment on Cr Newman's chances to topple Premier Anna Bligh.
Mr Springborg said it was up to the people behind Cr Newman's leadership bid to work out whether they would be able to sell to the public the concept of a "leader in waiting".
"The organisation of our party and some members of our party believe that can be achieved and I say good luck to them," he said.
He said one of the reasons he oversaw the merger of Queensland's conservative parties into a single entity was to ensure it would be clear who would be premier in the event of an election win.
Mr Springborg would not say whether he would stand for re-election.
He described Mr Langbroek as "the gentleman" of Queensland politics and said it was a "great pity" the people in the state didn't get a chance to have him as their premier.