LNP Queensland leader Deb Frecklington has announced she will stand down after her party’s defeat in the state election.
The Member for Nanango declared she would stay on as leader on Saturday night but changed her decision yesterday while spending time with her family.
“My first instinct is always to fight on. Since then I’ve had a great day with my family and husband Jason and reflected on my future,” Ms Frecklington said.
“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.
“I will not be a candidate in the leadership contest.”
Ms Frecklington said the new leader would have her full support and loyalty.
“I will assist them in any way possible to help this party move forward,” she said.
The opposition is set to lose up to four seats with Labor on track to hold 52 seats as counting continues on Monday after Saturday’s poll.
Ms Frecklington declared that she would stay on as LNP leader in her concession speech, but says she has since changed her mind.
She says as soon as the election results are declared she will call a party-room vote for a new leader and not stand herself.
“Now it has been the greatest privilege of my life so far, to be the leader of the Liberal National Party.”
She apologised for the party’s loss and thanked all the LNP’s candidates and volunteers for the hard work on the election.
“I am sorry that despite all of that support that we have had we were unable to win this election. I am the leader, and I do take responsibility for the election loss,” Ms Frecklington said.
She is the third LNP leader to have failed to beat Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the ballot box after Campbell Newman in 2015 and Tim Nicholls in 2017.
It’s understood that Broadwater MP and opposition tourism spokesman David Crisafulli is the leading candidate to take the reins.
Deputy Leader Tim Mander may also put his hand up in the leadership ballot.
Not only did Ms Frecklington face a powerful Labor adversary at the polls, she was also the target of damaging leaks from her own party during the election campaign.
“Look the internal distractions haven’t been helpful but that’s for the future,” she said.
“But what I want to say is this: I am really excited to be able to, this afternoon, get in my car and go to Kingaroy and spend some time out there.”
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