LNP president David Hutchinson resigns months out from Queensland election

Queensland LNP president David Hutchinson has bowed to internal pressure and stood down from the role just months out from the state election.

LNP president David Hutchinson has resigned. Picture: AAP

Queensland Liberal National Party president David Hutchinson has bowed to internal pressure and stood down from the role just months out from the state election.

The controversial party president announced on Friday night that he was resigning after months of criticism over his links to party rival Clive Palmer.

Mr Hutchinson had already quit his job as a property development manager for the billionaire, who employed him last year in the wake of the federal election, The Australian revealed in January.

It came hours after Mr Palmer formally announced his United Australia Party would contest the October state election.

A Newspoll on Friday indicated the LNP had a slim lead over Labor, with 51 per cent of the vote to Labor’s 49 after preferences are distributed.

The LNP has gained 4.3 per cent since the 2017 election, and the ALP has lost 1.4 per cent, which, if replicated on October 31 would indicate a possible hung parliament.

Mr Hutchinson was outed in May for leading a destabilising campaign against Deb Frecklington, the party’s parliamentary leader, for leaking polling that purportedly questioned her popularity. After the leak, Ms Frecklington said she would not bow to the “backroom bully boys” and she won the unanimous support of the party room to lead the LNP into the election.

Senior LNP figures — including Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton — called for Mr Hutchinson’s resignation as party president, saying his position was “untenable”.

In a statement issued to party members on Friday night, Mr Hutchinson said he intended to step down at a meeting of the state executive on Monday afternoon, where the executive will be asked to elect a replacement.

“There is no member who is exempt from asking himself or herself what our party needs from us at this time, including the leadership,” Mr Hutchinson said.

“While I feel I have a lot more to give to the LNP, now is the right time for me to step aside and support my successor as they lead the Party organisation to a state election victory and beyond.”

Mr Hutchinson was appointed as leader in 2018 after former president Gary Spence was forced to resign after the government introduced new laws banning political donations from property developers.

In the note to party members, Mr Hutchinson listed the federal election-winning swing in Queensland in 2019, a “hard-fought” win in the Currumbin by-election and the triumph of Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner in March among the party’s achievements under his leadership.

“In short, your party is in great shape to fight and win the state election,” he said.

In June, Mr Hutchinson faced internal criticism at a state executive meeting, but also received support from senior officials. A motion of support in Mr Hutchinson was withdrawn before it went to a vote.

Mr Spence has previously been touted as an interim replacement for Mr Hutchinson.