Queensland MPs spark debate over LNP split

Queensland MPs want a stronger voice in Canberra, reigniting a debate over whether the LNP should sit as a separate party.

Luke Howarth holds the seat of Petrie by 1.65 per cent. Picture: Tara Croser.

Queensland MPs have set out a key challenge for Scott Morrison after defeating Peter Dutton in Friday’s leadership ballot, arguing for their state to be given a stronger voice in Canberra and reigniting a debate over whether the LNP should sit as a separate party.

There are eight Queensland government-held seats on a margin of 4 per cent or less, with some MPs arguing the state would have better frontbench representation if Mr Dutton — who holds the Brisbane seat of Dickson by just 2 per cent — had emerged victorious in the leadership contest that ousted Malcolm Turnbull as prime minister and elevated Mr Morrison to the top job.

Luke Howarth, who holds the seat of Petrie by 1.65 per cent, noted the Liberal Party had never had a leader from outside Victoria or NSW and said he was “disappointed” Queensland MPs did not unite behind Mr Dutton.

“We had our opportunity and we missed it,” he said. “We’ve never had a Liberal Party leader outside NSW and Victoria and frankly it’s not good. And one day MPs and senators might wake up and say, ‘we’re getting behind this person from Queensland and going to make it happen’. If Peter Dutton was elected last week, we would have a lot more ministries than we do now. I’m positive of it.”

Mr Howarth also argued that it was “worth considering” whether the LNP should establish itself as a separate party in Canberra that would form a coalition with the Liberals so Queenslanders could have a more robust voice in the federal parliament.

Keith Pitt, who holds the Bundaberg electorate of Hinkler on a margin of 8.4 per cent, said Queenslanders were “parochial and always have been”, declaring that political gains for the state had always been achieved when “Queenslanders hunt as a pack”.

Mr Pitt — a member of the ­Nationals partyroom who did not vote in Friday’s ballot — confirmed on Sunday that he would follow through on threats to stand down from the frontbench because he would always put “reducing power prices before Paris”.

He also argued that Queenslanders would have been “very supportive of Peter Dutton”.

“However, that’s not to be and the Liberal leadership is entirely a matter for the Liberal partyroom,” he said.

“I 100 per cent support Scott and the team,” he told The Australian. “In terms of delivery, we need to see new power stations — whether that’s HELE (high-­energy, low-emission) coal or the 600 megawatt Tully Millstream hydro-power project. We need to open up the Galilee Basin and continue to deliver on the Bruce Highway.”

Queensland Liberal senator Ian Macdonald said he had cooled on the idea of establishing the LNP as a separate party, arguing interventions by LNP president Gary Spence in the leadership showdown had been unhelpful and worked to Mr Dutton’s detriment.

Before Friday’s ballot, Mr Spence privately urged federal MPs to topple Mr Turnbull and replace him with Mr Dutton as PM.

“I think the intervention of the state president and the organisation was particularly unhelpful in the whole event. I think it cost Peter Dutton votes,” Senator Macdonald said. “I’ve for a long period of time called for the LNP to sit as a separate party.

“I’m a bit cautious at the ­moment in the way the organisational wing seems to want to direct activities. And so I’m not as keen as on the idea as I have been in the past.”