Rivals on move as Deb bids farewell
MPS gauge chances
DAVID Crisafulli and Tim Mander are shaping up as potential contenders for the LNP leadership after Deb Frecklington eventually fell on her sword following the party’s electoral drubbing.
Both men would not say yesterday if they would run for the party’s top job, as Dale Last, the LNP’S most northern MP, revealed he would be willing to serve.
The jostling came as an emotional Ms Frecklington announced she would stand aside as leader, despite initially vowing to stay on in the wake of the party’s election result.
Ms Frecklington yesterday took responsibility for the loss and promised to offer her full support and loyalty to whoever succeeds her in the coming weeks.
“My first instinct to fight on,” she said.
“Since then I’ve had a great day with my family and my husband, Jason, and reflected on my future.
“Once all of the results are finally declared I will convene a party room meeting and I will ask my colleagues to appoint a new leader of the Liberal National Party.”
But the meeting could still be days away, with the final results not expected until late next week.
Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki made no comment yesterday when approached about the leadership, as some MPS suggested he could make a tilt for the deputy position instead.
They also questioned if he had the numbers in the party is always room to win the top job. It is understood Mr Last could be angling to run for the deputy leadership, in a bid to make the leadership team reflective of the state’s north and south.
“Being a passionate North Queenslander, if the opportunity arose to represent our area in a leadership role, I would take it,” the Burdekin MP said in a statement.
“Regardless of who ends up in the leadership team of Queensland LNP, I will always continue to fight for north and regional to get their fair share of the pie.”
Mr Mander offered no comment, while Mr Crisafulli did not respond when asked if he could confirm if he was running for the leadership.
Several insiders were yesterday suggesting Mr Crisafulli, a minister in the previous LNP government, would be a strong contender for the role.
Jarrod Bleijie and LNP police spokesman Dan Purdie both ruled out running.
Ms Frecklington would not say who she would back for the leadership, as she declared that she would “love” to serve in any position that was given to her by the new leader.
She said “internal distractions” during her tenure were not helpful.
“I am proud of the policies and the candidates that we put forward at this election.
“I’m proud of the campaign that we fought,” she said.
She said it was difficult year and election for the Opposition and claimed the LNP was a strong prospect of winning at the start of 2020.
However, she suggested COVID had a huge impact on Queensland politics.