Qld ‘foundational bulwark’ for Coalition to rebuild: Springborg

Queensland now holds nearly half the Coalition’s federal seats, LNP founding father Lawrence Springborg has said in a rallying call to the party faithful.

Queensland will be the “foundational bulwark” from which the Coalition rebuilds its political fortunes nationally, LNP president Lawrence Springborg has declared as he seeks to rally despondent party members.

It follows the LNP losing two seats in Queensland, with Trevor Evans and Julian Simmonds being defeated, while Senator Amanda Stoker will not be returned to the Upper House.

But it still holds 21 of the state’s 30 seats, while Bob Katter retained his seat of Kennedy and Labor had secured at least five and likely a sixth with Brisbane.

LNP President Lawrence Springborg has told party members Queensland will be the “foundational bulwark” from which the Coalition will rebuild.

Acknowledging the “wave of disappointment” felt by LNP supporters, Mr Springborg said the state now held 40 per cent of the Coalition’s seats in the country.

“The Queensland LNP has punched above its weight in every federal election since its formation in 2008, and last night was no exception,” Mr Springborg said in a letter emailed to LNP members obtained by The Courier-Mail.

“The LNP has also retained all of its outer suburban aspirational seats and again this is against the national trend in all states.

“While this may give us cause for encouragement, it also places on us a great weight of responsibility as we now build back from our circumstance.”
He said that Australia faced “potentially the most left-wing government that we have had in recent times, if not indeed history”.

Mr Springborg paid tributed to Mr Evans, Mr Simmonds and Senator Stoker, as well as Prime Minister Scott Morrison.