Sure fire way to keep the LNP in Opposition for 10 years.
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| Fiona Simpson - wants to be LNP Leader. |
THE LNP "stuffed up" during its single term of government and needs a more consultative leader to help it rebuild after its devastating election loss, Queensland Speaker Fiona Simpson says.
MS Simpson said on Monday she "is interested" in taking the reins of the party after Premier Campbell Newman lost his seat and announced his resignation from politics.
However she said any new LNP leader would need to govern with a lighter touch to Mr Newman, who was labelled "arrogant" and a "bully" by critics during the election campaign.
"There has been a harsh leadership style, and what I will say rather than pointing the finger at individuals is that as a team we have stuffed up and we need to do things differently and we need to listen to people," Ms Simpson told ABC Radio.
"The reality is we are looking at a hung parliament (and) that needs someone who is consultative, who can make the decisions with the team but also negotiate with those who are on the crossbenches."
Ms Simpson alluded to the possibility of ditching the LNP's controversial long-term asset leases, believed to be the policy that brought about the party's downfall.
"We don't have a mandate for the Strong Choices plan ... because we don't have the numbers and so we have to do things differently."
Ms Simpson said she would be prepared to negotiate with Katter's Australian Party members Rob Katter and Shane Knuth in order to form government if needed.
"I do believe I've got the consultative skills, but now with the potential balance of power in their hands they will weigh that up (and) we need to listen to them about what they will put on the table," she said.
Mr Knuth, who was elected in the seat of Dalrymple, said he was prepared to talk, but only if asset leases were off the table and the LNP heavyweights of Tim Nicholls or Jeff Seeney were not involved,
"One of the most important things is that the asset leasing or sales is dead and buried," he told ABC Radio.
"We're happy to communicate but ... our position is if they're going to put up the same leadership team they're wasting their time."
Mr Seeney is expected to resign as LNP deputy leader on Monday morning, with the party then to find a new leader as soon as possible.
