Campbell Newman to stay in Ashgrove seat

Queensland Premier Campbell Newman yesterday ­confirmed as the Liberal National Party candidate for Ashgrove.

AFTER months of speculation that Campbell Newman was looking to swap to a safer seat, the Queensland Premier yesterday ­confirmed as the Liberal National Party candidate for Ashgrove.

While successive polls show Mr Newman could lose the leafy inner-Brisbane seat, which he holds with a 5.7 per cent margin, it is the only electorate that Labor has yet to open up for nomin­ations for candidates.

Bligh government minister Kate Jones, who lost the seat to Mr Newman at the 2012 poll, is expected to recontest although she may face a challenge from local Rod Harding. She said she had yet to decide if she would run.

ALP insiders said Ms Jones would be likely to win a pre­selection contest, ­although Mr Harding had the backing of the Australian Workers Union-­dominated Right faction.

Successive polls show the government is on track to lose its huge majority in parliament — with last month’s Newspoll showing its lead over Labor was down, 52 per cent to 48 per cent on a two-party-preferred basis.