David Crisafulli, David Janetzki to run for LNP leader, deputy
David Crisafulli will run for the leadership of the Liberal National Party, while David Janetzki will seek to replace Tim Mander as deputy.
David Crisafulli is set to lead the Liberal National Party out of Saturday’s crushing election defeat, while at least three candidates are jostling to be his deputy.
The Gold Coast MP could be elected unopposed as leader in the wake of the third consecutive loss to Labor, which relegated the LNP to another four years in opposition. David Janetzki, Dale Last and Christian Rowan have staked their claim as second in command after current deputy Tim Mander said he would not contest a partyroom vote to be held once all seats have been declared.
The resignation of Deb Frecklington from the top job, less than 48 hours after she told an election-night rally she would stay on as leader, led to a flurry from the party’s MPs battling for leadership positions.
It quickly emerged that Mr Crisafulli, who increased his margin on Saturday, was the frontrunner and viewed by the majority of his colleagues as the one who could lead the party to victory in 2024.
“I nominate as someone who can offer the discipline to hold the government to account and has the energy to start the four-year task of preparing the LNP for government in 2024,” Mr Crisafulli said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Our party, our supporters and those who chose not to support us this time deserve nothing less.
“In coming days I will be asking my colleagues for their support and sharing with them my plan for rebuilding.
“Because this is a decision for the partyroom, I want to speak with colleagues further before making any public comment.”
Mr Crisafulli thanked Ms Frecklington and Mr Mander for their leadership and “tireless effort” over the past three years.
“Politics can be cruel and we are all hurting following Saturday’s result,” he said.
“Deb and Tim can be proud of their work ethic and long days trying to secure victory for the LNP.”
A former minister in the Newman government, Mr Crisafulli was first elected as the member for the Townsville seat of Mundingburra in 2012. He lost the seat in 2015 but reappeared in 2017 on the Gold Coast, defeating incumbent Broadwater MP Verity Barton in a preselection battle.
Mr Crisafulli was viewed as a favoured candidate of some former members of the LNP executive who led a destabilising campaign to replace Ms Frecklington in June. He publicly ruled out a challenge and said he had never leaked against Ms Frecklington.
Mr Mander, who was elected as deputy to Ms Frecklington in 2017, was considered a possible challenger for the leadership, but he ruled himself out on Tuesday.
“I wish the new leadership team all the very best,” he said in a statement. “Now is the time for stability and unity and I will serve in any capacity asked of me.”
Mr Janetzki, a lawyer and banker, was elected as Toowoomba South MP in 2015.
Two MPs told The Australian Mr Crisafulli had touted Mr Janetzki as his preferred option for deputy.
Burdekin MP Mr Last, who is the party’s northernmost MP and increased his margin by about 6 per cent on Saturday, has based his pitch to colleagues around his proximity to the battleground electorates in north Queensland.
“We need strong representation in the north,” he told The Australian.
“I see this as the perfect balance of having a leader based in the southeast of the state and a deputy based in the north.
“From a strategic point of view it makes perfect sense. I want to be the voice for rural and regional Queensland.”
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