LNP leader say ‘We’re not mediocre’, but Campbell Newman agrees with the Brandis’ assessment

LNP Leader Tim Nicholls has rejected a sharp assessment by the federal attorney-general, who described the state LNP team as “very, very mediocre”, but a former state colleague backs Brandis.

• George Brandis caught on open mike slamming LNP State Opposition
• LNP split on cards as Hanson threat looms

STATE Opposition Leader Tim Nicholls has rejected an embarrassing assessment by the federal attorney-general, who has described the state LNP team as “very, very mediocre” and “not very good”.

Mr Nicholls has defended the performance of his Liberal National Party team after Senator George Brandis, Queensland’s most senior LNP federal minister, was caught bagging them.

Tim Nicholls: “I lead a strong and effective Queensland opposition which is holding to account an incompetent, do-nothing government with no plans for Queensland.” Picture: Annette Dew

An open microphone captured his frank remarks, as he spoke to Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger at a party meeting in Melbourne on the weekend. “Well. They’re not very good,” Senator Brandis, said.

“I’d say the state opposition is very, very mediocre and the state government is very mediocre.”

Former LNP premier Campbell Newman, who lost the last election to Labor in a result no-one saw coming, has happily backed Senator Brandis’ assessment.

“(Senator Brandis) made the point that the state Labor government is mediocre and also he made the comment about the state LNP and I’ve got to say that we’re not seeing performance from the government or, sadly, the opposition,” Mr Newman told Sky News.

” ... there’s the opportunity for Tim Nicholls and the state opposition to really take it up to the government and actually to head off the Pauline Hanson threat.” But Mr Nicholls has released a statement, insisting he and his team are doing a good job.

“I strongly disagree with ... reported comments from Senator George Brandis,” Mr Nicholls said.

“I lead a strong and effective Queensland opposition which is holding to account an incompetent, do-nothing government with no plans for Queensland.”

During the weekend meeting in Melbourne, Senator Brandis also suggested there might be reason to undo the 2008 merger of the Liberal and National parties in Queensland.

He said moves by the Palaszczuk Labor government to reintroduce compulsory preferential voting meant that one of the main reasons for creating the merged party would be gone.

“(It) somewhat attacks the raison d’etre of the merger of the Liberal party and the National party,” he said.

“I think there might be a revising of things as a result of compulsory preferential voting.” Senator Brandis also highlighted the threat One Nation poses to the LNP, putting support for Pauline Hanson’s party at about 16 per cent and predicting it will win several seats at the next Queensland poll, due by early 2018. But LNP state President Gary Spence has said the party won’t be splitting.