LNP deputy leader John-Paul Langbroek says elevation great for Gold Coast even if in opposition
JOHN-Paul Langbroek says his elevation to LNP deputy leader is “great news” for the Gold Coast even if the city has no government representation.
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JOHN-Paul Langbroek says his elevation to deputy leader of the LNP is “great news” for the Gold Coast, despite the city being likely to have no government representation.
The Minister for Education, Training and Employment, elected behind Lawrence Sprinborg during a leadership ballot in Brisbane at the weekend, said the issues that mattered most to the city would be at the forefront of the LNP.
The LNP has maintained a strong hold on the Gold Coast, holding up to 25 per cent of the party’s statewide representation.
However, the prospect of a Labor-led government with no representatives on the Coast prompted concerns the city would be politically isolated from major funding.
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“With the Gold Coast having recognised and welcomed what the LNP has done over the last three years by us winning every seat here I felt it was important for me to seek representation,” Mr Langbroek said yesterday in an interview during his daughter’s cricket match at Robina.
“It obviously means significant attention will be paid to things that are of importance to us such as any sort of development projects, tourism issues and the general state of the economy which is something that we always pride ourselves on.
“Exit 54, the Commonwealth Games and extension of light rail are all things that we look to deliver and that now prospectively can be under threat because asset leasing is out the door and some of those things were relying on that.”
About 85 per cent of the vote has been counted with several seats in doubt but the Electoral Commission of Queensland is expecting a clearer picture of the election outcome by midweek.
While the election result was yet to be determined, Mr Langbroek said voters had clearly sent a message to the Government.
“There was definitely a message last week about people wanting a change of style and Lawrence Springborg and I show that through our personal manner and how we deal with people,” he said.
“We believe we’d be best placed to be government but that’s all decided by the votes that are still being counted.”
It is not the first time Mr Langbroek has been part of the state leadership team, having led the party in 2009-2011, but the Surfers Paradise MP insisted he had learnt a lot since his last leadership term.
“I obviously have more experience now because when I was leader in 2009 I had been in parliament for five years and now I’ve been there for 11,” he said.
“When you’ve been in parliament for that long you are learning every day and every experience you have makes you a better, more well-rounded person.
“It’s not showbiz. It’s a lot of hard work but it is a fantastic job and after 11 years I am certainly not tired of it.”
As for his thoughts on today’s federal leadership vote, Mr Langbroek said he did not think another spill was in the best interest of the nation.
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