Gold Coast MP David Crisafulli on call for LNP leader Deb Frecklington to ‘fall on sword’

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington should ‘fall on her sword’ and let Gold Coast’s David Crisafulli take over is the call - but what does he think?

GOLD Coast MP David Crisafulli backs Deb Frecklington as a “great leader during these trying times” after a call for her to “fall on her sword” after the Currumbin by-election.

Labor doyen Graham “Richo” Richardson said the “extraordinary” swing against the LNP in the by-election meant Ms Frecklington’s Queensland LNP leadership was “untenable”.

LNP candidate Laura Gerber narrowly beat Labor’s Kaylee Campradt to win the seat vacated by LNP’s long-serving Jann Stuckey, who did not endorse Gerber and has quit LNP.

Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington. Picture: Liam Kidston

Speaking on Richo and Jones on Sky this week, Mr Richardson said normally by-election swings went against second-term governments but it was a 4.5 per cent swing to Labor.

“(Frecklington) should of course fall on her own sword because with a result like that – as bad as that – you don’t make it difficult, you just go.

“Crisafulli will get the job … who went from Townsville to the Gold Coast so he could get the job. He won a seat in Townsville once but that’s all Liberals are going to do once in a blue moon. He knew he wouldn’t hold it so he went to the Gold Coast.”

Member for Broadwater David Crisafulli. Picture: Peter Carruthers

Mr Crisafulli said his only comment – other than he was sick of being sent the Richo clip – was: “Deb Frecklington is well respected by me and her colleagues and is a great leader for us during these trying times.”

A spokesman for Ms Frecklington said they would take no notice of a Labor stalwart who was a “sycophant for an underperforming Premier (Annastacia Palaszczuk)”.

LNP took “comfort” from the by-election win given Labor “outspent” LNP on ads, a One Nation candidate had split the vote and Ms Stuckey failed to endorse her successor.