ROGUE POLLIE LASHES LNP
THE LNP’s Jason Costigan has lashed out at his own party for failing to win more state seats in North Queensland.
The Whitsundays MP ( pictured) said the LNP was “bleeding votes” to Labor and the minor parties and needed to “reconnect” with former party stalwarts to claw back the North.
“We should have done so much better at the state election, we should have won Hinchinbrook, Townsville and Mundingburra,” he said. “We had s** thot policies but we couldn’t sell them, ( the voters) didn’t believe us.”
Mr Costigan launched his attack during a speech to State Parliament on Wednesday night.
He then doubled down on his comments yesterday.
“If my speech promotes discussion and robust debate then hip hip hooray, that is one step forward in North Queensland for the LNP and performing better at the ballot box,” he said. Mr Costigan called for two former LNP members who quit after they were suspended for publicly criticising the party’s election loss – former Herbert MP Peter Lindsay and Richmond Mayor John Wharton – to be brought “back into the tent”.
“Peter Lindsay has been a man of steel,” he said. “His success at the ballot box speaks for itself … yet he has been ‘ risolled’ and quite frankly it p* sses me off.”
Mr Lindsay resigned from the LNP in May after he was suspended for telling media the party could have won Mundingburra if they had selected a different candidate.
Mr Costigan said he had long planned to raise the issue in parliament but had to wait for his turn on the speakers list.
“In a perfect world I would love to be campaigning across the North already … but I’m restricted,” he said.
“Our state team in the North can now meet in a phone box at Giru.
“For as long as I’m caged up Robbie Katter will be doing handstands in Mount Isa.”
Mr Costigan’s attack has drawn the ire of some LNP members including one source who said the rogue MP had the “biggest glass jaw in the North”.
“The second anyone in the party has criticised ( Mr Costigan) he is the first to demand they get booted,” the source said. Mr Lindsay, who is currently a member of the ACT Liberals, told the Bulletin he would be happy to assist if the LNP Queensland executive invited him back but did not think that was likely.
“It’s just disappointing that you give your life to the party and you make one public comment and you get shown the door. Well that’s what ( Mr Costigan) was reflecting on in parliament,” he said.
“It’s a critical time for the Federal Government and the LNP with us facing a very serious election.
“It’s becoming very clear that the LNP has got to fight the populist policies of the Labor Party with every weapon it can … we must inform the Australian public the risks of the Labor Party.”
An LNP spokesman said the party was “very encouraged” by the “fresh new leadership” in the North.
“The LNP is building for the future,” he said.
“Federally, the LNP is working very hard to earn the support of North Queensland and win the seats of Herbert and Kennedy and retain Dawson and Leichhardt.
“We also aim to have two senators based in Townsville after the next election.”