THERE will be a distinctly northern flavour when the LNP's party room meets to elect a new leader, with former Townsville deputy mayor turned Broadwater MP David Crisafulli throwing his hat in the ring for the top job.
And incumbent Burdekin MP Dale Last, who was returned to the seat with a strong majority, has announced his intention to run for the Deputy Leader position.
Despite announcing her desire to continue on as leader during her concession speech on Saturday night, LNP Leader Deb Frecklington backflipped and on Monday announced she would be stepping down.
Ms Frecklington said she would convene a party room meeting once the ECQ had officially declared the results where a new leader would be selected.
It is likely to be the end of next week.
After winning his seat with a convincing 67per cent lead on a two-party preferred basis on Saturday night, Mr Crisafulli on Tuesday confirmed he would be a candidate for the leadership role.
In announcing his desire to lead Mr Crisafulli said in coming days he would share his plan for rebuilding the party with his colleague
"I nominate as someone who can offer the discipline to hold the government to account and the energy to start the four-year task of preparing the LNP for government in 2024," Mr Crisafulli said.
"Our party, our supporters and those who chose not to support us this time around deserve nothing less.
"In coming days I will be asking my colleagues for their support and sharing with them my plan for rebuilding."
It comes after Deputy Leader Tim Mander ruled out going for the top job.
Mr Crisafulli started his political career with Townsville City Council in 2004, before he teamed up with former Thuringowa Mayor Les Tyrell to run as deputy mayor in the 2008 local government elections when the two councils merged.
He held that position until 2012, when he stood aside to successfully contest the state seat of Mundingburra for the LNP, becoming Local Government Minister.
He only held the seat for one term, and was sensationally ousted during the Campbell Newman led government state election drubbing in 2015.
Mr Crisafulli, who grew up in the cane fields of Ingham and worked as a journalist before entering politics, then moved with his young family to the Gold Coast, where he was preselected, and then elected as the Broadwater MP in 2017.
Mr Last, who also served alongside Mr Crisafulli at Townsville City Council, this morning said he would nominate as Deputy Leader to give the party a senior voice from the regions.
"At the next LNP party room meeting, I will be nominating for the position of Deputy Leader of the Queensland LNP," Mr Last said.
"This is not a decision I have taken lightly but, for the benefit of the whole state, Queensland needs a senior voice from the regions."
"Given that, before the election, the Labor government had a three person leadership team, I think it is only appropriate that the LNP ensures that a regional representative not only has a strong voice in shadow cabinet but a senior leadership role."
Mr Last said he was humbled by the election results in his seat.
"It is an honour to represent such a diverse electorate and my commitment is that I will fight for them for the next four years.
"The result is proof that the people of the Burdekin electorate want a representative who is prepared to put in the hard work to cover a huge area and someone who, regardless of who anyone votes for, is prepared to help them and work for them."
