LNP Queensland leadership challenge

Tim Nicholls is confident the LNP is united behind him after winning the Queensland leadership battle.

Tim Nicholls MP walking with supporters towards the Partyroom leadership spill. Picture: Liam Kidston

Tim Nicholls is the new Opposition leader in Queensland, after defeating Lawrence Springborg and Tim Mander in a ballot for the Liberal National Party leadership.

Mr Mander was knocked out in the first round of voting, receiving only 10 votes, to Mr Springborg’s 17 and Mr Nicholls’ 14.

In the second and final round, Mr Nicholls secured 22 to Mr Springborg’s 19.

In his first press conference since winning the party room vote, Mr Nicholls said he was confident the LNP was united behind him.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” he said, describing his victory as a “tremendous honour”.

He described ousted leader Lawrence Springborg as a “stalwart of the conservative side of politics” in Queensland and thanked him for his service.

He said Queenslanders had voted against the Strong Choices privatisation program and he had to move on. But he would not say how the party would pay down the state’s debt. That plan would be worked out in coming weeks and months, he said.

“We have to take the fight up to the Labor party,” Mr Nicholls said.

Whip Ian Rickuss said the party would unite behind the leader, despite the close result.

Deb Frecklington has been elected unopposed as deputy.

Mr Rickuss said: “I think people realise that they were three quality candidates and whoever is going to lead is going to lead.”

MP for the regional electorate of Warrego Ann Leahy said the rural deputy of Deb Frecklington would win votes.

“I’m probably one of the most regional MPs and Deb Frecklington has been a frequent visitor to my electorate…and I think she’ll do a fantastic job,” Ms Last said.

Asked whether Mr Nicholls should put privatisation back on the agenda, Ms Leahy said Mr Nicholls had promised the Newman government’s Strong Choices privatisation policy was “dead and gone”.

“We will look at policy issues but I think Tim’s made it very clear Strong Choices is dead and gone,” he said.

As the Newman government’s Treasurer, Mr Nicholls was the chief salesman for the controversial $37bn Strong Choices asset leases plan.

LNP President Gary Spence said the new leadership team were well-placed to challengeLabor in the next election.

“Tim Nicholls brings significant political experience to the position of Parliamentary Leader and with the talented Member for Nanango, Deb Frecklington, as Deputy Leader, the LNP remains the party committed to representing all Queenslanders,” Mr Spence said in a statement.

“They will form an effective team holding an incompetent Labor Government to account and promoting LNP policies to unleash Queensland’s true potential in the lead up to the next state election.

“The organisational wing of the LNP looks forward to working closely with the new leadership team.