No split for the LNP
Calls to allow regional MPS to run own race
THERE will be no attempt to unscramble the LNP back into two separate parties, despite its third loss in a row at a state level, but there are calls to allow regional and rural MPS to run more of their own race.
It would be similar to how the federal Nationals run a separate sales pitch, while delivering the same message.
In the 12 years since the shotgun marriage of the Liberal and National parties in Queensland, the LNP has won a majority of seats in the state at four federal elections, but only won one state campaign.
Despite the results on the weekend, multiple party sources confirmed there would be no change in the LNP as a single party.
Some pointed to its membership, which now has a majority of people who joined after the merger and have never been part of the old Liberal or National parties.
“You can’t unscramble the egg, but we have to make sure we provide sufficient local control across a big state like Queensland to run localised campaigns,” another senior party figure said.
At a federal level, Nationalaligned MPS and senators have more free rein to push messaging further than the main campaign would, such as strong calls for a coal-fired power station in North Queensland, while the Coalition’s official position was to fund a feasibility study for the project.
In the 2013 federal election the LNP won 22 of the state’s 30 seats, there was a net loss of just one seat in 2016 under Malcolm Turnbull, while in 2019 it secured a record 23 seats.
While the 2017 state election loss for the LNP saw instant talk of a split, or National-aligned MPS running a separately branded campaign, this has not been repeated in 2020 so far.
The huge swing in 2012 that brought the Newman government to power was the only success for the LNP at a state level to date.
Senior party figures say there are no moves afoot to consider a demerger of the party, particularly given its federal successes.