Jorge Branco reports in the Brisbane Times (3.12.16) on the surprise announcement that Lawrence Springborg, former leader of the LNP and co-founder of the merged party, is set to resign his seat of Southern Downs by the next state election.
‘The father of the LNP and three-time leader of the party has announced he won’t contest the next state election.
‘Lawrence Springborg, who played a leading role in creating the Liberal National Party merger, broke the news to members of his Southern Downs branch on Saturday.
‘The former leader lost out to Tim Nicholls in a leadership spill in May and was installed as chair of the Parliamentary Crime and Corruption Committee soon after.
Mr Springborg said he wanted to leave while he still had a sense of “political passion”.
‘”After much consideration and discussion with my family, I have this morning informed Local LNP Party Members of my decision not to re-contest Southern Downs at the next state election due in early 2018,” he said.
‘”I have also informed state party president Gary Spence and parliamentary leader Tim Nicholls of this decision.”
‘… Mr Springborg was forced to rule out a move to federal politics after Maranoa MP Bruce Scott announced his impending retirement last year.
‘His decision to leave state politics would likely own fuel speculation of a change of political arena.’