‘He doesn’t have to look over his shoulder’: Amanda Stoker joins David Crisafulli’s Queensland LNP team

Amanda Stoker is feeling energised after a 16-month break from politics and will to join the LNP state team’s campaign to end Annastacia Palaszczuk’s nine-year reign.

Former Senator Amanda Stoker has resurrected her political career to give the Liberal National Party a fresh face in its campaign to topple Annastacia Palaszczuk’s third-term Labor government in Queensland. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

Conservative star Amanda Stoker has resurrected her political career to give the Liberal National Party a fresh face in its campaign to topple Annastacia Palaszczuk’s third-term Labor government in Queensland.

The former senator and federal assistant minister will contest the bayside seat of Oodgeroo, held by the LNP since 2009, at next year’s state election after securing party preselectors’ endorsement at the weekend.

Ms Stoker, who lost her Senate seat at last year’s federal election, said she felt energised after a 16-month break from politics and wanted to join the state team to help end Ms Palaszczuk’s almost nine-year reign.

“I think during the pandemic we learned about how important it was to have high-quality, principled state governments, because when the pressure is on there is a lot that lies in the hands of the states and we need to make sure that the people there are well equipped for the task,” she said.

“The LNP team in state parliament are so disciplined, so effective and so focused on making a difference on the things that are causing Queenslanders pain right now, so they’re a team I want to be a part of.”

Tony Abbott, John Howard and Peter Dutton all formally endorsed Ms Stoker ahead of Saturday’s preselection, when she defeated media consultant Daniel Hobbs, 65 to 48 votes.

LNP sources say Ms Stoker also had strong backing from Opposition Leader David Crisafulli, who will “put her straight into cabinet” if the party wins government.

Ms Stoker, a Sky News host, is already being touted as a future premier in LNP circles, but said she was focused on Oodgeroo and would not challenge Mr Crisafulli.

“He doesn’t have to look over his shoulder, he is doing a bloody good job,” she said.

Former Senator Amanda Stoker on the foreshore near her home after she secured preselection for the safe LNP state seat of Oodgeroo, Wellington Point, Brisbane. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

A staunch pro-life supporter, Ms Stoker built a commanding profile during her four-year Canberra career, positioning herself as a warrior of Christian values.

But those cultural fights will take a back seat for now, as Ms Stoker insists she is concentrating on the LNP’s target issues of health, crime and the cost of living.

“I’ll always be a values person and … want that to be the way we anchor our policies, but there is really important work to do in our core priority issues,” she said. “We need to be completely focused on the (issues) that are making life hard for Queenslanders.”

Mr Crisafulli said Ms Stoker, a prosecutor and barrister before entering politics, would bring “a wealth of experience” to the state team.

“There is a growing mood for change in Queensland, a year out from the next election. The LNP is united and focused on delivering for Queenslanders,” he said.

Ms Stoker fell out with several Queensland MPs ahead of the 2020 election when she accused former opposition leader Deb Frecklington of “playing the gender card”. Ms Frecklington had called out the “backroom boys” in the LNP for destabilising her position with their failed attempt to install Mr Crisafulli as leader.

But Ms Stoker does not think “that stuff is on anyone’s mind” anymore. “Everybody is just focused on what is ahead and that is what is great about the team,” she said. “We know what we stand for, we know what we are fighting for and we are more unified than I have ever seen the LNP.”