How Coalition split will impact Queensland
Queensland LNP president Lawrence Springborg has spoken on what impact the federal Coalition split will have on the state government, as a federal MP says who the move will “piss off” most.
QLD News
Don't miss out on the headlines from QLD News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The epic split of the Coalition federally will have no bearing on the Queensland LNP state government or the LNP-dominated Brisbane City Council, according to the man which merged the party in the Sunshine State.
LNP president Lawrence Springborg, in an emergency briefing to the party membership, sought to distance the Queensland party unit from the turmoil in Canberra.
Nationals Leader David Littleproud has sensationally walked away from a formal Coalition with the Liberals — the first time since the early 1970s that the two parties haven’t worked together federally as a joint unit.
The Liberals and Nationals exist as separate party structures in almost all states and territories except Queensland and the Northern Territory, where the LNP and CLP respectively exist as a singular entity.
The LNP has existed since 2008, with the merger steered by Mr Springborg. Queensland is one of just two states — alongside Tasmania — run by the conservative side of politics.
Brisbane City Council — the largest local government in the country — is also run by the LNP.
Mr Springborg, in the email to members obtained by The Courier-Mail, said the discussions federally had “no bearing or impact on the organisational arrangements within the Queensland LNP”.
“The positive benefit that comes from the single united LNP in Queensland is there will be no Nationals, or Liberals contesting against each other in a futile waste of critical resources,” he said.
“We hope that as a part of the ongoing federal discussions this can also be avoided in other places around our nation.
“Ongoing positive, pragmatic and outcomes-focused discussions aimed at achieving a new Coalition are crucial going forward. Millions of LNP supporters nationwide expect this of us.”
Premier David Crisafulli reiterated Mr Springborg’s sentiment that the Queensland LNP would not be impacted by the federal split.
“How that (federal Opposition) is structured is for the Liberals and Nationals in Canberra to decide,” he said.
“As for what it means in Queensland - we are the LNP. We know what works in Queensland because we aren’t Canberra, we aren’t New South Wales and we aren’t Victoria.
“The LNP is a party for Queensland, formed in Queensland, delivering for Queenslanders.”
While the LNP has insisted that whatever new arrangement was reached it would have no impact on how it operates in Queensland, a federal Queensland LNP MP said the Coalition split would only serve to “piss off the voters and the membership”.
“The unification of the two parties in Queensland — regardless of the tiffs — works well,” they said.
“This just opens old divides.”
The decision by the Nationals to do away with the formal Coalition for now means none of its MPs or Senators— including Queenslanders like Senator Susan McDonald— will serve in shadow frontbench roles.
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said he was disappointed with the split but said it was “rare” for the Coalition to survive in Opposition.
“Today’s decision is disappointing. I am a Coalitionist – I think we’re better together as a coalition of the Liberal Party and the National Party,” he said.
“But the decision is not without precedent in Australia and the arrangement is relatively rare in democratic traditions such as ours – that we maintain a coalition while in opposition”.
Mr Wallace said he hoped a Coalition agreement would be reached by the 2028 election.
“I know that my colleagues across both parties share that same aspiration,” he said.
Originally published as How Coalition split will impact Queensland
Broncos’ bold move to tackle hidden crisis in sport
The Brisbane Broncos are using a striking black jersey to publicly confront a crisis affecting one in three athletes, in a cross-code call to action.
‘Qld spirit at the core’: Top Games officials tour SEQ Olympic sites
Queensland has turned it on for top 2032 Games officials as they visited the river city at sunset to see the famous Brisbane sign following their first day of in-country meetings.
State sued over 28 years of racism claim
A class action has been launched against Queensland Health by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders over claims of racial discrimination stretching back to 1996.
Burleigh beatdown: Wanted man’s alleged attack on cop
A night time police patrol has allegedly turned violent at Burleigh Heads with an officer assaulted. Read what went down.
Alfred’s shock stats spark push for new buy back scheme
A voluntary home buy back program is among the recommendations of a review into Cyclone Alfred, with the report revealing just how many properties previously bought out would have flooded again.
‘Out of control’: Explosive moment dad allegedly chased gunmen to his death
A witness has recalled the moment an Ipswich dad was allegedly shot dead, detailing what happened in the lead-up to the shooting and saying he saw the gun in the accused killer’s lap.