Toxic culture claims put Queensland LNP headquarters in turmoil as crucial election looms

An exodus of highly-experienced staff and allegations of a toxic workplace culture at LNP headquarters has put the party’s organisational wing in choppy waters just six months out from a crucial federal election.

An exodus of highly-experienced staff and allegations of a toxic workplace culture at LNP headquarters has put the party’s organisational wing in choppy waters just six months out from a crucial federal election.

Queensland’s LNP headquarters has lost a number of crucial staffers, including state secretary Angela Awabdy who held the post for nearly a decade and finance manager Lisa Tanner.

Party sources have alleged culture in the workplace has become so toxic an experienced and well-respected accountant who agreed to help out for a few weeks while a replacement for Ms Tanner was found ended up leaving within two days.

It’s understood a newly hired finance manager remains stuck in her current Sydney base due to coronavirus restrictions.

Others at the party’s head office are close to walking out the door according to LNP insiders, signalling the tumult that has rocked the party in recent times was not yet over.

Queensland LNP’s new President Lawrence Springborg. Photo: Glenn Hunt / The Australian

The exodus of staff, including several campaign workers, comes at the time of major upheaval within the party, including the hiring of new state director Tony Eyres in June, a purge of the LNP hierarchy in July and the election of Lawrence Springborg as the party’s president.

One senior LNP source said the situation at the organisation’s headquarters was like a “slow train wreck”.

Another source said the loss of staff was a “massive failure of the party’s leadership”.

“Aside from the reason why key staff are leaving, the biggest operational issue is the loss of critical campaign know-how six months out from an election,” the high-ranking source said.

“Letting this happen is unforgivable and a massive failure of the party’s leadership”.

The LNP did not address questions about alleged workplace culture issues or if formal complaints had been made to the party’s leadership including Mr Springborg.

A spokesman asserted the LNP would be “well prepared to fight the next federal election” and help re-elect a Morrison government.

“We have a committed and experienced team that have very successfully fought federal elections,” he said.

Queensland was instrumental in returning the Coalition to government with a majority in 2019, with the LNP’s stronger than expected result winning it 23 of the 30 available seats in the state.

The party is expected to face significant pressure from Labor in key seats, particularly in the Central Queensland electorate of Flynn, where popular Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett is running against the LNP’s Colin Boyce.

The latest date the next federal election can be held is May 21, 2022.