In the wake of Tim Nicholls’ concession of defeat in the Queensland election and his announcement that he would not recontest the LNP leadership, current LNP deputy leader, Deb Frecklington, has put up her hand to run for the vacant position.
Ms Frecklington, the Member for Nanango, has asked Tim Mander to run as her deputy, which she said he had agreed to do.
A party meeting will be held next Tuesday to elect a new LNP leadership team.
Saying it had been a great honour to loyally serve as deputy leader of the Liberal National Party for the past 18 months, she said her nomination offered “an opportunity for the LNP to take a fresh approach that will allow us to reconnect with our community, an opportunity to forge a party that draws strongly on the LNP’s traditional values combined with a good dose of down-to-earth, common-sense ideas that will drive Queensland forward”.
She paid tribute to Tim Nicholls for his “hard work, dedication and leadership over the past 18 months”, saying he had left nothing on the field in his drive to improve Queensland.
She put the party’s defeat down to an inability to “compete with Labor’s campaign machine of union conscripts and negative smear and fear politics”.
”That aside, Queenslanders have spoken and as a party we must listen, regroup and rebuild faith in the LNP as the only conservative party that can actually deliver for Queenslanders across the state.
“I was raised in a family where you didn’t just sit back, complain and expect others to create opportunities and solve problems.
You put up your hand to serve your community, in whatever way you could, not just to make things better for your own family but for everyone in your community.
“I want to recreate for my three daughters the Queensland I experienced when I was growing up, but also a state that’s geared up to tackle the challenges of the future.
“I understand that most Queenslanders just want to have a steady job, build a good life for their family and get ahead.
“They want politicians who represent them and their communities, not their own self-interests. I can assure Queenslanders that I take a no-frills attitude to politics and with me, what you see is what you get.”
Ms Frecklington said that out of respect for her colleagues and the party room process, she wouldn’t be making any further public comments until after next Tuesday’s party room meeting.