Poison pen letter reveals LNP plan to oust Campbell Newman’s deputy Premier Jeff Seeney

A special in-depth Courier-Mail investigation has exposed extraordinary dysfunction and turmoil within the LNP over the past decade, including in a bombshell plot to push out its own deputy premier during the Newman era.

The LNP hierarchy tried to push out its own deputy premier during the Newman era after receiving an anonymous poison letter which included unsubstantiated claims about personal and professional indiscretions by senior Cabinet figures.

The Saturday Courier-Mail has uncovered the bombshell as part of a special in-depth investigation which has exposed extraordinary dysfunction and turmoil within the party over the past decade.

THE WAR WITHIN

- ‘Era of distrust’ that brought down LNP from inside

- The real reason why the LNP keeps failing

- How drinks on Clive Palmer’s yacht sparked a coup

- Poison pen letter reveals LNP plan to oust Jeff Seeney

- LNP architect’s dire warning over division

At the same time, then-deputy premier Jeff Seeney was facing separate internal party pressure after he refused to approve a rail line and offer up for sale a Sunshine Coast parcel of land to billionaire Clive Palmer.

Outraged at the allegations said to be in the letter – which was never shown to Seeney – the former deputy premier wrote to the LNP’s state executive and demanded then-president Bruce McIver resign.

Then-deputy premier Jeff Seeney was facing separate internal party pressure after he refused to approve a rail line and offer up for sale a Sunshine Coast parcel of land to billionaire Clive Palmer. Pic Jono Searle.

Seeney is one of several senior figures pushing for a clean out of the party’s organisational wing in the wake of the 2020 state election loss.

“Unless there’s change, the LNP is in for a very bleak future,’’ he said.

The joint investigation between The Saturday Courier-Mail, Sunday Mail and Sky News reveals a party in crisis, beset by internal squabbles and deep division, fuelled by anger at the powerful hierarchy.

Premier Campbell Newman at a 2012 press conference with Tim Nicholls, Jeff Seeney and Party president Bruce McIver. Pic Glenn Barnes

Today we can reveal:

• A furious clash with party powerbroker Barry O’Sullivan set in train the political assassination of John Paul Langbroek when he refused to politicise the 2011 floods;
• Then premier Anna Bligh rang Labor state secretary Anthony Chisholm and said she was going to call a snap election when Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman was parachuted in to replace Langbroek. She was talked out of it.
• Seeney described dealing with the party organisational wing during the Newman Government as “more stressful’’ than dealing with the Labor Opposition;
• Party sources say a grassroots-led revolt is happening among branch members who are “baying for blood’’ after the election loss;

Several party elders say extensive reform is vital if the party is to reclaim electoral success, particularly in the state’s capital.

Former deputy premier Jeff Seeney wrote to the LNP’s state executive and demanded then-president Bruce McIver resign.

Figures within the hierarchy claim MPs are really to blame for the electoral disasters and should be taking responsibility for the failings.

“The state team are the issue and even now, they are trying to blame anyone but themselves,’’ one figure said.

Responding to the revelations, new LNP leader David Crisafulli said there must be compromise on both sides.

He’s told his shadow Cabinet to get out and talk to members to reflect contemporary policy.

He has hit the ground running, travelling extensively to talk to regional members about his aspirations in the top job.

“Everything I do in the weeks, months and years ahead is about getting the LNP fit for government,’’ he said.

“I want to give Queensland what it needs. I am determined to do that.

“I believe we can win (in 2024). We must win. We need to be ready to fix the fiscal malaise of this government.

“Getting the parliamentary and organisational wings of the party rowing in the same direction is paramount.

“That’s my mantra. That’s what I intend to do.’’

Sources close to Crisafulli say he has encountered “genuine anger’’ among members at what happened during 2020.

“He knows change is coming .. he knows that,’’ said a colleague.

It’s understood that former party president Bruce McIver – who many claim is still heavily influential - regards Crisafulli as the party’s great hope and the answer to its political failings.