Lawrence Springborg quits as LNP president after four years at the helm
Lawrence Springborg will quit as LNP president, calling for the party to focus on unity when choosing his successor.
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Lawrence Springborg will stand down as LNP president next month, calling for the party to focus on unity when choosing his successor.
Mr Springborg, the father of the successful 2008 merger of the Liberal and National parties in Queensland, was elected LNP president in 2021.
His decision not to contest the position at next month’s LNP state convention was revealed on Friday.
“This is a decision that I made four years ago, when I was elected party president and I always intended to make this announcement at the second last state executive meeting prior to convention in 2025 and this is what I did today,” he said.
“My personal undertaking when I took on this role, was, that I would steward the party until the year after the state election, which also was a federal election year. This was known to my family and very few others, for obvious reasons.
“It has been a rare honour to serve as LNP President these past four years and while the recent federal election served as a disappointment to our supporters, we can take some solace from the fact that we remain the only state or territory were our side of politics holds the majority of seats and a majority of the vote.”
Premier David Crisafulli thanked Mr Springborg for his service and building the LNP’s success in regional Queensland and the southeast.
“Under Lawrence’s stewardship our combined Liberal and National heritages came together to create a stronger grassroots political party that is Queensland to its core,” he said.
“Lawrence has been a unifying force and fostered a vibrant grassroots membership who passionately helped elect an LNP Government for Queensland.”
Mr Springborg took the reins in the wake of a devastating 2020 state election loss- blamed partly on chronic infighting between the LNP organisation and its parliamentary team led by Deb Frecklington and Tim Mander.
He called for LNP members to focus on the unity of the party when considering his successor.
“The only encouragement that I would provide, is for consideration to be given to the teamwork, professionalism and unity that has been built, fostered and harnessed through your party’s leadership working with the membership and our elected representatives in recent times,” he said.
Mr Springborg joined the conservative party in 1984 as a 16-year old and, at 21, was the youngest person elected to state parliament.
Mr Springborg led the LNP to election defeat against Anna Bligh in 2009 before becoming health minister in the Newman government.
He praised the work of Premier David Crisafulli’s “very competent administration” for “restoring faith in good government and delivering our party’s platform and policies”.
The LNP membership will vote for a new president at its August state convention.
Mr Springborg has pledged to remain involved with the LNP, but focus more time on his wife, children and roles as mayor of Goondiwindi Regional Council and farmer.
LAWRENCE SPRINGBORG TIMELINE
Early life
February 17, 1968: Born in Inglewood, Queensland.
1989: At age 21, elected to the Queensland Parliament representing Carnarvon, becoming the youngest-ever MP in the state’s history.
Parliamentary career
1989–1992: Served as Member for Carnarvon.
1992–2001: Represented the seat of Warwick.
2001–2017: Represented the newly created seat of Southern Downs.
Leadership roles
2003–2006: Leader of the Queensland National Party and Opposition Leader.
2008: Returned as National Party leader.
July 2008: Instrumental in merging the Queensland Liberal and National parties to form the Liberal National Party (LNP); became its inaugural leader.
2008–2009: Served as LNP leader and Opposition Leader.
2015–2016: Returned as LNP leader and Opposition Leader.
Ministerial role
2012–2015: Appointed Minister for Health in the Newman Government.
Election campaigns
2004 & 2006: Led the National Party in state elections; both resulted in defeats.
2009: Led the newly formed LNP in its first state election; the party was defeated by Labor under Anna Bligh.
Retirement from state politics
2016: Announced retirement from state politics after 27 years of service.
Local government and party leadership
March 2020: Elected Mayor of Goondiwindi Regional Council.
July 2021: Elected President of the Liberal National Party of Queensland.
July 2025: Announces his retirement as LNP president.
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