Battle lines drawn as Queensland MPs give blueprint to Morrison

Queensland MPs are working with Scott Morrison on a battle plan to shore up as many as 10 LNP seats from falling to Labor.

Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien. Picture: Lachie Millard

Queensland MPs are working with Scott Morrison on a battle plan, headlined by a major infrastructure program, to shore up as many as 10 LNP seats from falling to a resurgent Labor Party at the upcoming election.

The government’s Queensland MPs met the Prime Minister yesterday to flesh out the plan, amid fresh Newspoll analysis showing an 8.1 per cent swing against the Coalition in the key state.

The draft re-election blueprint includes major roads projects in southeast Queensland, big dam projects in the north of the state and measures to combat drug abuse in rural and regional ­communities.

It was the group’s first meeting with Mr Morrison since he took over as Prime Minister, giving the MPs the opportunity to pitch on projects seen as vital to securing the state’s economic future.

Group spokesman Ted O’Brien said the Coalition’s 26 Queensland MPs worked together as a “united force” to deliver better outcomes for the state. “Our meeting with the PM was a productive one,” the member for Fairfax said.

“As usual, we put forward our views on what the state needs. My colleagues and I took the opportunity to outline the importance of issues ranging from the scourge of drugs to the importance of roads, rail and water. We invited the Prime Minister to come to Queensland again soon.”

It’s understood the MPs lobbied for major roads projects in southeast Queensland and at least five key dam projects.

Luke Howarth, who holds the seat of Petrie by 1.7 per cent, said the plan was about delivering sustainable wins for the state. “It’s about a long-term vision on how we want to shape Queensland. It’s about working together. long-term,” he said. “It’s not just about me in Petrie. Believe it or not, ­people in Petrie are interested in farmers in western Queensland and northern Australia.”

Another Queensland MP who attended the meeting said: “What Queenslanders want is for the government to be getting things done. People want to see some ­action.”

The government’s most senior MP, Peter Dutton, who chairs the “Team Queensland” grouping of 26 MPs, was among those who ­attended the meeting. His political future is on a knife-edge as he prepares to defend a 2 per cent margin in his seat of Dickson.

Newspoll analysis shows that in Queensland, the Coalition has suffered an average 5 per cent primary vote swing since the spill, and a 10 per cent fall since the election. The two-party-preferred swing against the government of 8.1 per cent would result in the ­potential loss of 10 seats, including Mr Dutton’s.