Deb Frecklington to ask LNP to appoint new leader after election drubbing
Deb Frecklington has quit as leader of the LNP in an emotional press conference where she apologised for Saturday’s election humiliation and declared the party’s new leader would have her full support and loyalty. And one MP has already signalled he is angling for a “leadership role”.
QLD Votes
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Deb Frecklington has stood down as LNP leader following Saturday’s election drubbing.
Ms Frecklington fronted the media at Queensland Parliament today, where she confirmed she would be standing down after reflecting on her future.
She said she had changed her mind after initially announcing on Saturday night her intention to remain in the job.
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“On Saturday night I said to wanted to remain leader of the Liberal National Party,” she told reporters on Monday morning.
“My instinct is always to fight on.”
But she said she had thought more on it after a family day on Sunday.
She said she would call a meeting of the party room once the results of the election were settled.
“I will ask my colleagues to appoint a new leader of the Liberal National Party,” she said.
“I will not be a contender in the leadership contest.”
She said the new leader would have her full support and loyalty to move the party forward.
She said the job had been the greatest privilege.
“I am sorry that despite all the support we had, we were unable to win,” she said
Ms Frecklington she said she took full responsibility as the leader for the loss but said “internal distractions certainly weren’t helpful”.
She said she was still “immensely proud” of the candidates that ran and the policies they presented.
“There is no doubt that COVID has had a huge impact on Queensland politics,” she said.
Asked whether she supported her deputy, Mr Mander, taking on the job, she said that was a question for him.
Following the news, Burdekin MP Dale Last signalled he is angling for a “leadership role” in the LNP, as party members begin crunching the numbers following Deb Frecklington’s resignation as leader.
In a statement, the LNP’s only senior state MP north of Bundaberg said his first priority was to represent his electorate.
“If the opportunity arose to represent our area in a leadership role, I would take it,” he said.
“Regardless of who ends up in the leadership team of Queensland LNP, I will always continue to fight for north and regional Queensland to get their fair share of the pie.”
Mr Last, who amassed an 8 per cent swing toward him as the LNP failed to make any headway north of Alligator Creek, is a former police officer, local government councillor and has been re-elected for a third term as Burdekin MP.
Insiders in Townsville have long floated Mr Last’s name as a logical choice for deputy leader of the LNP should Broadwater MP David Crisafulli win in a spill.
Mr Crisafulli is a former Mundingburra MP and was a Townsville City councillor with Mr Last.