State election 2020: LNP members push for David Crisafulli to challenge for party leadership
LNP powerbrokers are pushing for a Gold Coast MP to challenge for the party’s leadership and lead a generational shake-up to get it back into election-winning shape.
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GOLD Coast LNP powerbrokers are pushing for Broadwater MP David Crisafulli to challenge for the party’s leadership and lead a generational shake-up to get it back into election-winning shape.
Long-term party members, leading business figures and even incumbent MPs are pushing for change after the LNP crashed to a third successive electoral defeat, sparking a revival of internal ructions.
The notoriously rocky relationship between party headquarters and Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington, a poorly run campaign and party room full of ageing Newman Government figures have all been blamed for the loss, which saw the LNP lose seats.
Mr Crisafulli, who won his northern Gold Coast seat with an increased majority, would not be drawn on the leadership on Sunday but admitted the LNP had to engage in serious soul-searching.
Mr Crisafulli said the LNP “needed to take a good long hard look at itself”.
“We should not be afraid of discussing what we did well, what we did poorly and the road ahead,” he said. “We need to accept the mandate the government has been given and hold them to account in a professional manner and be a credible opposition.
REVEALED: WHAT HAPPENED IN EACH GOLD COAST SEAT
“Sam O’Connor’s result in Bonney is a blueprint of how we can connect with a raft of people who traditionally might night have voted for our side of politics and Laura Gerber’s result in Currumbin provides us another articulate young professional to take the fight to Labor.”
Pressed on whether he would take on the party leadership in the hours before polls closed, he said: “I hope the opportunity doesn’t arise, I hope we win.”
While Ms Frecklington insisted she would stay on as leader in the wake of the defeat, all LNP leadership rolls will be automatically up for challenge at an upcoming party room meeting, per party rules.
While Mr Crisafulli is playing his cards close to his chest, demands for change are growing from branch members who say they are frustrated over the party’s long run of poor showings.
By the end of the next parliamentary term in 2024, the conservatives will have held power for just five of the previous 35 years.
“David is the only person who can bring the party together,” a leading LNP figure said on Sunday night.
“He understands business, he has a business background and we are never going to make any headway with a regional leader - the only way we are going to win is a leader from the Gold Coast.”
Another experienced campaigner said a generational change was needed to refresh the LNP’s image.
“We need a new team and I would expect at least half of our Gold Coast MPs would be on track to retire from parliament at the end of this term,” the campaign operative said.
“Emotions are running right now but the question they have to ask is do they want to keep failing or win?”
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