JPL: I’M MAN FOR TOP JOB

GOLD Coast LNP veteran John-Paul Langbroek faces a second opponent for the Queensland leadership but says he has what it takes to rejuvenate his party.

The battle to be the state LNP leader is shaping up as an argument between experience or renewal.

Mr Langbroek spent the weekend phoning all 38 of his LNP colleagues, highlighting his superior time in Parliament and safe seat ahead of tomorrow’s party room vote.

He is in a three-member race for the top job vacated by Tim Nicholls. Mr Langbroek faces fellow leadership hopefuls Deb Frecklington, of Nanango, and Oodgeroo MP Mark Robinson.

Mr Langbroek, who won a sixth term last month after first claiming his now stronghold seat of Surfers Paradise in 2004, is by far the longestserving with Mr Robinson elected in 2009 and Ms Frecklington in 2012.

“I don’t think I’ve run my race,” Mr Langbroek said yesterday, having recently stared down internal criticism he’d been there too long by saying “I’m 56 not 86”.

“Because of my experience I understand the issues our party needs to present instead of looking for some type of magic answer.”

Mr Langbroek said it was also important for the party’s increasingly marginal seat holders on the Coast to have a Coast-based leader.

“That would be something I would be considering if I was a Gold Coast MP,” he said.

But he also highlighted he had spent 14 years venturing to every corner of Queensland.

“The fact I’m from the Gold Coast, I want that to be seen as a positive because I have such a safe seat but it’s the rest of Queensland we need to appeal to.

“From the experience I’ve had travelling around Queensland, you appreciate the diversity of Queensland – whether in Mornington Island, Cape York, Gulf of Carpnetaria, Mt Isa, I love it.

“That’s the greatest thing about my job compared to being a dentist,” he said of his former career. “I’ve had 14 years travelling the state and realising how unique and diverse Queenslanders are.”

... I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OUR PARTY NEEDS TO PRESENT INSTEAD OF LOOKING FOR SOME TYPE OF MAGIC ANSWER.

Mr Langbroek said he believed he was the underdog.

“I’m not going to express overconfidence, just keep working and doing the hard yards between now and Tuesday … it’s going to be close.”

Mr Robinson threw his hat in the ring at the weekend, revealing on Twitter his decision to stand.

“Despite the best efforts of LNP leader Tim Nicholls and his deputy Deb Frecklington, they fell short and Labor is back in Government.

“A completely new leader and a new direction is needed to rebuild trust and connect with all Queenslanders,” Mr Robinson said.