Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek now short odds for LNP leader

SURFERS Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek was at $17 to become LNP leader — “bit of a long price”, he reckons.

GOLD Coast LNP veteran John-Paul Langbroek is tight-lipped on a leadership tilt but calls $17 odds on him a “ridiculous, long price”.

Sportsbet initially had him an outsider at 17-1 to replace leader Tim Nicholls but he stormed into pole position at $2.50 as of the weekend.

“I was out at $17 — that was just ridiculous. I thought as a former leader it was a bit of a long price,” Mr Langbroek said yesterday.

Surfers Paradise LNP Member John-Paul Langbroek on his leadership odds by Sportsbet: “I was out at $17 — that was just ridiculous. I thought as a former leader it was a bit of a long price.” Picture: Jerad Williams

His new odds of $2.50 have him joint favourite with Brisbane’s Tim Mander while Mr Nicholls sits at $7.

Mr Langbroek, who won a sixth term as Member for Surfers Paradise in the recent state poll said yesterday it was too early to talk leadership contenders until the election result was final.

Mr Nicholls should also be given the courtesy of calling a party room discussion first, he said.

Mr Langbroek (left) says current LNP leader Tim Nicholls should be given the courtesy of having a party room discussion first after the election result is clarified before any leadership talk. Picture: Glenn Barnes

Asked about his leadership ambition, Mr Langbroek replied: “I’m not ruling anything in or out. People only have to have a look at my background to see I have only ever run after elections. I don’t do midterm challengers and I don’t undermine existing leaders.

“I personally had a very satisfying result on the Gold Coast which is the epicentre of conservative politics in Queensland and they are all things people will need to take into consideration.”

But he adds: “I’m not ruling anything in or out.” Picture: Tara Croser.

Mr Langbroek said he wouldn’t read anything into the betting odds as they initially included LNP members who failed to win their seats.

His frontrunner status at $2.50 was also just “weight of money” from people who backed him at formerly long odds, he said.

Sportsbet’s Will Byrne said: “Punters have jumped on the large prices we originally had for Langbroek and he’s become a real contender now.”

LNP’s Member for Broadwater David Crisafulli is at $5.50 to win the LNP leadership. Mr Langbroek is at $2.50, joint pole position with Tim Mander. Photo by Richard Gosling

Broadwater winner David Crisafulli, considered leadership material by some, has previously told the Bulletin he won’t comment on leadership until the make up of Parliament is decided.

He is at $5.50 while Labor is odds on to win 47 seats after the election, giving them the numbers to govern outright.

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