LNP Gold Coast leader John-Paul Langbroek snubbed

LABOR took an immediate shot at the LNP yesterday for ignoring the Gold Coast after the failed bid by Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek for the leadership.

Queensland LNP leadership contender Deb Fracklington (centre), flanked by fellow party members Ros Bates (left) and Tim Mander, arrives at a party room meeting at Parliament House in Brisbane (AAP Image/Dan Peled) NO ARCHIVING

LABOR took an immediate shot at the LNP yesterday for ignoring the Gold Coast after the failed bid by Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek for the leadership.

Deb Frecklington yesterday emerged an hour-long meeting between LNP MPs as party leader, with Tim Mander her deputy.

Gold Coast-based Senator Murray Watt immediately tweeted that the ALP had recognised the Coast earlier in the day by appointing Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon to an outer ministry.

“LNP with 10 seats on the Gold Coast couldn’t elect one of them to a new leadership role. Still taking the Gold Coast for granted,” he said.

Murray Watt getting a selfie with ALP candidates and members, Rowan Holzberger, Georgi Leader, Meaghan Scanlon, Christopher Johnson, Kate Jones MP, Judy Searle, at the 2017 Queensland Australian Labor Party 2017 Campaign Launch at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Picture: Jerad Williams

LNP frontbencher Ros Bates took an immediate swing at Senator Watts rating him low on the charisma chart.

“Def Frecklington is young, dynamic, a mother, a businesswoman,” the Mudgeeraba MP said. “She is not some union Labor hack like Murray Watt and Meaghan Scanlon.

“She will make her appointments to ensure all Queenslanders are represented.”

Some party figures believe failure by Mr Langbroek to lead the LNP again shows former leader Tim Nicholls remains a powerbroker in the party.

Ros Bates, to the left of Deb Frecklington — the LNP leader is the right choice. (AAP Image/Dan Peled)

Mr Langbroek and the other contender, Mark Robinson, failed to sway enough MPs from the strong Nicholls faction to beat the Nanango MP who will be the first female LNP leader in Queensland.

Ms Frecklington worked closely with Mr Nicholls when he was Treasurer after being appointed Assistant Minister for Finance in 2012. She was his deputy in Opposition from 2016.

“Deb has always been seen as a Tim Nicholls supporter. It will be major hurdle for her to overcome,” a party insider told the Bulletin.

Mr Langbroek was parliamentary leader and leader of the Opposition from 2009 to 2011.

The Frecklington camp said “the party room is confident they’ve picked the right team”.

John-Paul Langbroek after announcing he will run for leadership of the LNP. Pictured at Surfers Paradise Beach. Pic Adam Head

Ms Frecklington entered the party room with Mr Mander and Ms Bates smiling at her side.

After the victory, she said she and Mr Mander would immediately begin discussions about their new front bench with the appointments likely to be announced later this week.

“I was raised in a family where you didn’t just sit back, complain and expect others to create opportunities and solve problems. You get out and do something about it,” she told the Bulletin.

“Under Annastacia Palaszczuk, we have the second worst unemployment in the country, Labor can spin the figures as much as they like but until Queensland is number one – it just isn’t good enough.

“I can assure Queenslanders that I take a no-frills attitude to politics and with me, what you see is what you get.

“With that in mind, I want to say just one thing to Annastacia Palaszczuk and Labor – it is game on.”

Mr Langbroek was not available for comment yesterday.