David Crisafulli dismisses LNP rift as Santo Santoro ruled ineligible to vie for state executive seat

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli says party fights cannot be his focus when Queenslanders wanted his attention to be on issues that mattered to them, like crime, housing, and cost of living.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has dismissed an explosive internal Queensland LNP rift as the expected “toing and froing” of any political movement.

Mr Crisafulli, speaking in Mackay, insisted the internal party fights cannot be his focus as Queenslanders wanted his attention to be on issues that mattered to them, such as crime, housing, health, and cost of living.

But the headaches for LNP headquarters are rolling on, with another contested internal ballot to take place on Monday evening.

It comes in the aftermath of the failed bid of a one-time LNP factional warlord to secure a powerful role in the party.

Mr Crisafulli said his focus had to be on issues of concern to Queenslanders.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Veteran lobbyist Santo Santoro. Picture: Supplied

“There will always be toing and froing in any political movement,” he said.

“I’m no more interested in the toing and froing of a local branch meeting as I am about whether or not the Labor Party will leapfrog anyone into a senate position.

“That can’t be my focus … I won’t be derailed from that.”

LNP state director Ben Riley, in an update to members on the weekend, confirmed ex-Howard government minister and veteran lobbyist Santo Santoro had been ruled ineligible to vie for a seat on state executive.

Mr Riley said high-level legal advice had deemed Mr Santoro’s nomination invalid as he was a registered lobbyist at the time he put his name forward.

Lobbyists are banned from playing a “substantial” role in Queensland election campaigns under the state’s integrity laws.

The LNP in 2011 also banned lobbyists from state executive in a move to clamp down on conflicts of interest, including those of Mr Santoro at the time.

Mr Santoro was still a registered lobbyists when he nominated for the role but took himself off the federal and Queensland register hours before the vote was held on May 9.

But supporters of Mr Santoro believe the LNP’s top brass are not out of the woods and that there is still an argument to be had over the interpretation of the laws and the way the vote was handled.

Former Howard government figure Gary Hardgrave. Picture: James Croucher

It is understood Mr Santoro is weighing up his legal options. Mr Santoro declined to comment.

His backers have maintained the push to get the veteran party powerbroker back on to state executive was about sending LNP headquarters a message about members being dissatisfied about the way things were being done.

The aggrieved section of the LNP is hoping to send another message to headquarters on Monday evening, when members in the party’s metro-west region are set to vote on their state executive representative.

Ex-Howard government figure Gary Hardgrave held the role until he was suspended by the party pending internal investigations over allegations of bullying and intimidation, which came after he raised concerns of alleged branch stacking.

The Courier-Mail does not suggest the complaints are true or that Mr Hardgrave has engaged in any wrongdoing, and he will be given the opportunity to defend himself before the disputes committee.

Mr Hardgrave’s wife Lorraine is running for the position against former Brisbane City councillor Peter Matic.

Backers of Mr Santoro have signalled a win by Mrs Hardgrave would send a strong signal to headquarters that the fight was not over.

Those against Mr Santoro say a loss by Mrs Hardgrave’s would show most members are more interested in winning the upcoming state election than playing out factional fights from yesteryear.