‘New direction’: Last minute concession rocks the LNP

In a shock 11th-hour concession, LNP President Cynthia Hardy has stood aside for the ascension of party stalwart Lawrence Springborg.

LNP President Cynthia Hardy had stood aside for the ascension of party stalwart Lawrence Springborg after an angry party membership tore down the all-powerful President’s Committee in a resounding cry for change.

Ms Hardy last night wrote to members informing them she was withdrawing her name from today’s ballot in an 11th-hour admission of the “strong mood for change and the need for unity”.

“And with respect for that mood for change I am writing to inform you that I will not be contesting the ballot for President tomorrow,” the email said.

LNP President Cynthia Hardy has withdrawn her name from the ballot.

Mr Springborg’s victory is now a foregone conclusion, facing off against just one other candidate, Timothy Wright. The incredible last-minute concession of defeat came after a day in which senior members suggested Ms Hardy “read the room” and avoid an embarrassing defeat.

It followed the almost unanimous dismantling of the cabal of backroom powerbrokers by delegates yesterday on day one of the highly-anticipated state conference.

The president’s committee vote was a resounding win for LNP Leader David Crisafulli, who had addressed the room before the vote – brought forward from the 115th agenda item to the second – and had earlier this week called the convention one of the biggest tests of his leadership.

He told delegates he did not want to be on the committee despite the recommendation by the Constitutional Review Committee that his position should be represented on it, along with two regional chairs.

The committee is controlled by the president, who traditionally fills its positions with whoever they wish.

Lawrence Springborg is likely to be the new LNP president.

Mr Crisafulli said he did not want power unequal to the rest of the executive and there were complaints on the floor that some regional chairs would hold more power than others.

A senior LNP source said it was a monumental moment.

“In all my years I’ve never seen the party embrace a new direction so strongly,” they said. “The room was overwhelmingly in favour of handing power back to the grassroots of our party. This is what reform looks like.”

Another senior source said it was akin to throwing off the “power of Tolkien’s ring”.

The move kicked off hours of constitutional debate that went into last night during which a motion removing the rule that automatically grants all past presidents membership on the state council also passed.

But another contentious motion that passed may be overturned as early as today.

A rule brought in by former president Dave Hutchinson that meant members had to hold paid membership for a year before they could vote or stand for positions was abolished.

But The Courier-Mail understands it might be reinstated as early as today.