Newman to lead the liberals!

[somebody]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/brisbane-lord-mayor-campbell-newman-to-enter-state-politics-lnp-john-paul-langbroek-leadership-crisis/story-e6freoof-1226025692667

LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek quits as Campbell Newman announces he will enter state politics

Campbell Newman holds a press conference to announce he wil be stepping down as Lord Mayor of Brisbane to contest the next state election as leader of the LNP.

OPPOSITION leader John Paul Langbroek has stepped down after Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman announced he would contest the Labor-held seat of Ashgrove.

Mr Langbroek thanked his staff and family and predecessor Lawrence Springborg.

''I'm not a showman I'm not a headkicker and I don't apologise for that,'' he said.

"I wish Campbell Newman well."

When asked what he'd done wrong, Mr Langbroek said: ``That's for other people to judge''.

"It's a treacherous business.''

Mr Springborg also stepped down as deputy leader. "``Obviously, people have charted a different course. The ball is in their court,'' he said.

Mr Langbroek's resignation came an hour after Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman announced he'd seek Liberal National Party (LNP) preselection for the state seat of Ashgrove, currently held Labor's Environment Minister Kate Jones. The LNP need a swing of 7 per cent to win the seat.

"Should I succeed in gaining pre-selection with the LNP it's then my intention to resign the lord mayoralty and to then launch a leadership challenge for the leadership of the state LNP team,'' Mr Newman told reporters.

He said he had great respect for Mr Langbroek but he believed he was the right person to lead the LNP in Queensland.

''... I believe that I'm the one to lead the team forward,'' he said.

"We need to deal with a very bad Labor state government that has given us all sorts of problems across Queensland.''

If he failed to gain pre-selection, he said, he would commit to stand again in the 2012 council elections.

Deputy Mayor Cr Graham Quirk is tipped to step into the mayoral role until the next election if Cr Newman wins pre-selection. However, long-time councillor Margaret de Wit has also been named as a possibility to take the top job in the interim.

Cr Newman said the LNP candidate already pre-selected for Ashgrove had offered to stand down.

He said he will resign the lord mayoralty and launch a challenge to Mr Langbroek, whom he described as a "terrific bloke."

Newman steps up for State role

Campbell Newman tells media he'll stand for Ashgrove state seat and has the numbers to take the LNP leadership.

Listen to the full press conference

He said he wanted Mr Langbroek to consider being a member of his frontbench.

"I have attempted to ring Mr Langbroek some time ago, I haven't had a call back,'' he said.

Mr Langbroek has called a press conference for later today.

Cr Newman said he had been lobbied by members of the public to consider running over the past three months and after a "lot of soul searching'' agreed to run.

As he made his announcement a Facebook page was launched backing his move.

He accused Premier Anna Bligh of using the floods to boost her popularity but denied he was doing  the same thing.

"The people of Queensland need an alternative government," Cr Newman said.

Cr Newman said he believed he was the right person to take the party forward.

"Clearly to deal with this Labor party machine who's been all about spin and not about substance ... we need to mount a huge and effective campaign ... and that's what I'll do,'' he said.

Cr Newman said he had not been promised anything.

"This is a way forward which I'm doing which, let's not beat around the bush is not straightforward it is risky,'' he said.

Cr Newman said he had taken calls from MPs saying they wanted him to "take this step''.

"I'm just saying that I have had expressions of support from the state LNP partyroom because they know that Queensland needs a change of government they are frustration they want to be heard,'' he said.

Cr Newman said he had spoken to LNP MPs and he believes he has the support to win leadership.

Senior members of Mr Langbroek's cabinet going to begin resigning at lunchtime today which will force a spill of the leadership.

Pro-Newman supporters are hoping to install an interim leader to act as leader in Parliament, but Cr Newman will be leader outside the Parliament

The Newman move is reportedly part of a grand plan by the LNP executive, including president Bruce McIver, to make Cr Newman leader in waiting and, ultimately, dump Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek who is seen as a lame duck.

Leaked internal research, carried out in secret behind Mr Langbroek's back, has shown Mr Newman would be a far more popular leader.

As MPs arrived at State Parliament, Leader of Opposition Business Jeff Seeney said Mr Newman had a great civic record and had performed better than Labor Premier Anna Bligh.

``I would very much welcome Campbell Newman here in the state parliament. I think he's a great civic leader. I think he's got a great record.''

Asked whether Mr Langbroek would remain leader, Mr Seeney replied: ``We will wait until things develop during the day, shall we''.

Mr Seeney said he would hold a press conference about noon.

``You'll just have to wait,'' he told reporters.

Former Liberal leader Bruce Flegg said Mr Newman had ``some of the strongest electoral appeal of any leader in Queensland''.

``Campbell Newman has one of the best proven track records of any political leader in Queensland,'' he said.

Dr Flegg said it was for the party to decide if Mr Newman should replace Mr Langbroek.

But Burdekin MP Rosemary Menkens brushed aside the leadership speculation.

``John-Paul Langbroek's leadership is very safe,'' Ms Menkens said.



Former Labor premier Peter Beattie said the turmoil within the LNP was a gift for Premier Anna Bligh a year out from the state election.

"You could see that the Opposition is being as helpful as they normally are, which is good," he said.



But, he also said, Mr Newman could cause problems for Labor.

"I think he probably would and any research would indicate that. He would make it (the election result) closer," he said.

"But whatever happens, regardless of whether Campbell Newman is in there, or John-Paul Langbroek is there, this will be a tough, close election."

As the electoral timetable officially entered the final 12 months of the term on Monday, the LNP descended into a dangerous stalemate over its future direction.

Mr Langbroek declared he would remain as leader and provocatively questioned whether the "faceless men" behind the push to install Cr Newman into the state leadership should resign.

However, LNP president Bruce McIver, who has called a special meeting of the LNP state executive for Friday, refused to end the rivalry and is believed to be still pursuing options to transplant Cr Newman into state politics.

Cr Newman lives in the Labor-held electorate of Brisbane Central, where the LNP has already selected a candidate. Early yesterday, Mr Langbroek issued a statement questioning whether Mr McIver had breached the party's constitution by trying to orchestrate the switch to the Lord Mayor.

However, the Opposition Leader later softened his position after meeting with his front bench, declaring Mr McIver an "outstanding president" who he could work with in the future.

Mr Langbroek maintained he would remain as leader and any member of the party's organisation who couldn't support this position should step aside.

"I am the leader of the parliamentary LNP," he said.

"I am the person who has been chosen by my fellow members and that is how it will stay."

While even some of his critics sided with the Opposition Leader, former frontbencher David Gibson said Mr Langbroek's earlier statements had further inflamed the situation.

"I think that reinforces the unpredictable nature that I've complained about in the past," he said.

Moggill MP Bruce Flegg, who rejected a push for him to step aside for Cr Newman, yesterday called for the issue to be resolved quickly.

"These things sometimes happen in politics," he said.

"How much damage they do depends on how long they go for."

Dr Flegg denied there was ever an employment offer attached to the push for him to retire.

"I was not offered an inducement and the matter that's (been) referred to the (Crime and Misconduct Commission) is not correct and there will be nothing of interest found by the CMC," he said.

The stand-off has overshadowed a Labor spat sparked by the party's ejection of outspoken unionist Peter Simpson, which may go to court.

LNP MPs fear the deadlock between the party's parliamentary wing and organisation could drag on for months and give added impetus for Premier Anna Bligh to call an early election.

Not good news for PT.  Newman has a chance of leading the libs to victory.

[ozbob]

If Mr Newman thinks he has a chance, the BCC centric model must be shaken off and look towards proper policy for the state.   I hope that at least some reasonable policy development occurs, particularly transport (other than roads and cars) from here.  Part of the problem in Queensland is a Government not held to task by a flailing opposition ...

[Jonno]

I have a letter from the Lord Mayor himself stating "active and public transport will never be greater than 30% combined.  This state is financially and economically doomed if he is our Premier!!!

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Seeney to be LNP seat warmer

Blog comments at Brisbanetimes --> here!

My contribution:

This is so funny!!

Good Government needs an opposition on its game, something that has been missing in action in the smart state for some time. The latest games are going do very little in that regard. I vote on policy not 'personality' ... show me the colour of your policies LNP!

[Stillwater]

Oh, boy, where to from here?  

Clearly the LNP is going for a presidential state election campaign  -- 'can do' Campbell is your man in Mt Isa, in Cairns, in Townsville, in Ipswich, in Toowoomba, in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast etc.  The trouble is he isn't.  There are local members in those seats.  Many sitting members have not gone through the formal endorsement process within the LNP.  They will now be called in one by one and shown the instruments of their torture (as was the procedure in the days of the Inquisition) and asked to swear allegience to Campbell.  He may even request to have a say in who is endorsed where.

Then those horrible election posters will appear -- twin faces four metres high, one of them Campbell's, the other the local member.  The slogan beneath reads ... Vote Bill Smith -- Campbell Newman's man/woman in the such-and-such electorate.

Labor will be pointing out that Campbell Newman has not even been elected to the Parliament and is only the LNP candidate for Ashgrove.  (Well, he is yet to be endorsed!)

The hapless electors will see parliament question time with Anna Bligh and a seat warmer going hammer and tong, but the bloke who matters from the LNP side sits down the road in City Hall.  Up and down the coast, Labor will reinforce the message that Bill Smith and Mary Jones are the local members, not Campbell Newman.

Newman will have to be Eddy Everywhere meeeting people all over Queensland.  Meanwhile, there won't be any policy development  going on in the 'alternative government', as the factions fracture and reform and the long knives stab political flesh in the backroom shadows.

Labor will be laughing all the way to the polls.

Anna Bligh has said that 2011 is the 'year for rebuilding' and 2012 for the polls.  Her undertaking to 'intend having the parliament run its full term' is on a par with the government promise to intend building a duplicated railway line to Nambour by 2031.

Local government elections are due to be held in March 2012, the same month as the state government poll is due.  Can you imagine the voter confusion in Brisbane when their Lord Mayor's picture will be all over the media, but, in actual fact, he is running for a state seat AND leadership of the LNP, and potential Premier?  Council candidates will be campaigning on bus stops and sewers, while state candidates will debate daylight saving, abortion and stamp duty tax.  Everything and everyone will be in the melting pot.

Anna Bligh will have every justification to call an election at the end of the year, immediately after receiving an interim report from the State Disaster Review Committee, but before Campbell Newman pulls his rabble together.

She will be able to say that the end of this year is close enough to full term.  She wants to end the speculation and for everyone to have a 'good relaxing Christmas break.'  Besides, it would be too hard to have state and local government campaigning going on at the same time, she would argue.

A November state election campaign would set Mr Newman an almost impossible task.  It is going to be an interesting year, but don't expect too much coherence from the LNP side regarding PT.  Except if you are a constituent in the Ashvrove electorate.  By jove, you are going to be promised some pretty exciting stuff from both sides.  Personalised hovercraft for everyone, courtesy of BCC and/or state Labor.

[mufreight]

The LNP has not just shot itself in the foot it has blown the whole leg off, as for public transport in south east Queensland it will buses and bus tunnels and by 2016 when the reality sets in that CRR is needed the South East will be in gridlock, any credible options out there rather than Labor, the LNP or the Greens, a colition of credible independents would be an alternative.      

[paulg]

It would be a disaster for Queensland if Newman were to extend his road-centric vision to the rest of the state.

[Jonno]

It would be a disaster for Queensland if Newman were to extend his road-centric vision to the rest of the state.

The Labour Party is no better really.  Greens only party with leading practice transport plans.

[david]

Say goodbye to CRR if he becomes premier...

[ozbob]

Say goodbye to CRR if he becomes premier...

I think you will find he will change (again) on that.  He is on record as strongly supporting CRR, the outburst this week was just another publicity trick.

[Gazza]

It could be some interesting times with him at the helm. With respect to CRR, I too agree Bob that it will still happen, except we'll probably get it for a billion or two less than what Labor would deliver it for....Having a Civil Engineer at the helm rather than a typical politician (ie, a Lawyer) could have some benefits in this regard.

Perhaps I'm quietly hoping that Campbell will be all tunneled out by now (With Northern link done the only thing to remain is that useless Buranda-Toowong tunnel) and has learnt a lesson that roads aren't necessarily the solution. Even though it was a stupid statement earlier in the week, at least he's finally thinking about trains.

[Golliwog]

What does the political leader being an engineer have to do with the price of the project? They don't actually work on it themselves, public servants do.

[ozbob]

Media Release 23 March 2011

Queensland:  More of the same or actual policy improvement?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has noted that the move by the Lord Mayor of Brisbane into State Politics is an opportunity for an improvement in public and active transport for a sustainable future.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There is a vacuum of policy from all sides of the political spectrum in moving forwards for a truly sustainable future.  Car centric development has been foisted on the citizenry with worsening congestion and financial collapse.  It is time to change the paradigm before peak oil leads to a paralysed transport system."

"The recent outburst by Cr Newman calling for the scrapping of the Cross River Rail project just highlights how Brisbane centric transport planning has been (1). Cross River Rail is essential to improve the capacity and service frequency of the entire south-east Queensland rail network, and has flow on effects for the rest of Queensland."

"People determine their votes on policy not personality.  Good Government demands a focussed and productive opposition, things which have been missing in action in Queensland for some time.  Time for all parties to grasp the moment!"

Reference:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5341.msg50467#msg50467

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Stillwater]

The battle for Ashgrove is on.  Tonight's TV new bulletins showed Campbell Newman kissing a baby in the electorate he hopes to win.  The other interesting factor is that Mr Newman, channelled by the parliamentary Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney, will be reshuffling the Opposition Shadow Cabinet, we are told.  Could that explain a lack of action on the part of the Opposition shadow public transport minister, Ms Davis, of late?  Keeping her head low until she, or someone else, is confirmed in the job?  To confuse things more, some recent PT comment has come from Fiona Simpson, the shadow transport minister.  That just blurs the responsibilities between the transport and public transport shadow portfolios.  What was she doing challenging Mr Seeney?  It was action that emphasised disunity.  It also highlights a very bizarre situation in Queensland politics.

[ozbob]

What was she doing challenging Mr Seeney?  It was action that emphasised disunity.  It also highlights a very bizarre situation in Queensland politics.

Ms Simpson is an elected representative.  Good on her for standing up to the charades.  I suspect there are more than a few extremely upset with the shenanigans.   Why is it I don't think this is going to end well at all?

The media is blinded by the spin. They are ignoring the diabolical record on transport issues. 

[mufreight]

Although the LNP faceless men might not have appreciated it Fiona Simpson has integrity and credibility and is not afraid to say what she believes, while she might not have the public face of Campbell Newman in hindsight she may well have been a better choice for the LNP leader untill after the elections if the party felt so strongly that JPL was not up to the task.

[BrizCommuter]

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2011/03/welcome-to-ashgrove.html
BrizCommuter is looking forward to Mr Newman campaigning outside a certain railway station!

[ozbob]

Obviously unhappy campers about ..

From the Courier Mail click here!

Jeff Seeney warns LNP MPs to put up or get out if they don't like Campbell Newman move

Jeff Seeney warns LNP MPs to put up or get out if they don't like Campbell Newman move

JEFF Seeney has told LNP MPs to quit if they don't agree with Lord Mayor Campbell Newman being the party's leader-in-waiting.

As the Government lampooned the LNP's leadership arrangements in Parliament, the interim Opposition Leader attempted to slap down dissent in his own ranks.

"Campbell is coming. Get with the team or get out of the way," Mr Seeney said when asked about those opposed to the unusual scheme.

The plan to have Mr Seeney as Opposition Leader in Parliament and Cr Newman as election team leader on all other occasions has caused unrest within the LNP party room.

Sunshine Coast MP Fiona Simpson challenged for the leadership and gained significant support.

But Mr Seeney dismissed claims she achieved up to 13 votes despite admitting he didn't know the actual result.

He refused to guarantee Ms Simpson a frontbench position and condemned those who had supported her leadership bid.

"I think it was rather foolish on behalf of some people but that is their right," he said.

Sources yesterday said some who supported the push for Cr Newman did so in a climate of "fear and intimidation" while others who backed Ms Simpson were warned of consequences.

Sitting MPs have not yet been endorsed by the party's headquarters. But Cr Newman insisted LNP MPs would get behind him once he was installed as leader.

"People in Queensland don't have to worry about that any more," he said.

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas accused Cr Newman of campaigning for the LNP while being paid by ratepayers and insisted Mr Seeney should hand back the extra $61,000 he will earn as Opposition Leader.

Mr Seeney dismissed the Government's call to hand back the money but said he wasn't in the position for the extra cash.

"I would do this job for nothing if the bank manager and the wife would let me," Mr Seeney said.

As the Government taunted the Opposition in Parliament, Mr Seeney retaliated by saying "bring it on" amid widening speculation of an early election.

"We were expecting them to throw the kitchen sink at us. I think they threw the kitchen sponge," he said.

But confusion continued to dog the bizarre model. There were questions about whether Cr Newman would stay on if the LNP lost and who would select the new shadow cabinet.

Mr Seeney said it was up to Cr Newman whether he continued as Opposition Leader but promised to "go back to driving tractors" if the LNP lost.

He said he would select the front bench with Cr Newman's input.

Personally I feel very uncomfortable with the notion of an unelected person (Newman) have a direct influence on the Qld Parliament processes and dictating the opposition cabinet.  I am not naive and realise all party machines have an influence to some extent, but this is just blatant and over the the top. It is little wonder that the many of the elected representatives (the MPs on the LNP side) are not happy at all.

[Fares_Fair]

This is ridiculous, what is it with the LNP president - playing games with the government of this State.
I am not interested in 'personality' over practical experience. But that's me - maybe others are more shallow.

I think Fiona Simpson would have made a great leader to go up against Anna Bligh, if they were not happy with John Paul Langbroek.
Both JPL and Lawrence Springborg came across as genuine leadership material, they have the required competancy already within the party.
This is convoluted, complicated and reliant on far too many variables.

I personally dislike it when 'faceless men' decide to play with the democratic process.
To parachute in a candidate upon an electorate (Ashgove) when there is already (but don't know who it is) a pre-selected candidate for the seat isn't good IMHO.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

We are in unchartered political waters, no doubt  -- made all the more turbulent by having removed the checks and balances of a bicameral parliament.  In the absence of good, strong policies, what do you have left?  The Cult of the Personality.   It is the nature of Queenslanders to yearn for the 'democratically elected dictator.'  Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen is the stand-out example.  Many of us thought Paul Hansen was a political messiah.

Time and again, we voters look to a 'can do' politician to get the job done, without demanding emphatically and forcefully from political parties detailed and costed policies.  When we do, the glossy brochure full of aspiration is trotted out – often completely lacking in detail as to how the aspiration is to be achieved, and have that measured against a budget and timeline.

If we look to strong wartime figures, even Patton, Montgomery and MacArthur had battle plans to follow -- some good, some bad.   In the context of this forum, it behoves us to demand, yes demand, PT policies of both political parties and examine them in forensic detail.

To counter the situation where we will face a choice between a flood-hardened 'we are strong in adversity' Captain Bligh and a 'can do' Newman, people should demand the policies.
If we don't, what happens is what Sir Joh used to do – go all round Queensland and standing in front of a vacant block of land where the new hospital, fire station, school, bus interchange railway station, or whatever, is to go and say boldly  'if you want this bit of infrastructure, vote for your National Party candidate.'  Bugger whether a community that votes Labor is more deserving of a hospital.  Labor does it too.  Paul Lucas' Sunshine Coast Line promises are a case in point.

It is clear the upcoming election will be portrayed as a two-horse race.  Local candidates won't get a look-in.  The parties will make it simple.  The candidate will be stripped of personality and be portrayed simplistically as 'Anna's man/woman' or Campbell's lackey.  It has started already.

Look at Fiona Simpson.  She and her supporters are being portrayed in the negative – as not being Campbell Newman's 'men and women'.  As stated in an earlier post, what was she thinking?

Today's Courier-Mail says it all:
Quote:  Sunshine Coast MP Fiona Simpson challenged for the leadership and gained significant support.  Mr Seeney refused to guarantee Ms Simpson a frontbench position and condemned those who had supported her leadership bid.  Sources yesterday said some who supported the push for Cr Newman did so in a climate of "fear and intimidation" while others who backed Ms Simpson were warned of consequences.  Sitting MPs have not yet been endorsed by the party's headquarters.  End quote.

Being threatened with disendorsement is the political equivalent of being taken out back and being shot.

Aaron Dillaway was the endorsed LNP candidate for Ashgrove.  He was taken into a dark room by LNP party officials and made to change his mind, later emerging to say he was happy to stand aside for Campbell Newman.

Politics is played hard and raw in Queensland.

[colinw]

Langbroek and now Simpson show the inevitable fate of anybody with integrity who makes the mistake of standing for political office in this country.  I do not see what the LNP is doing as anything more than a new variation on the same sordid politics that parachuted Kristina Kenneally into the premier's office in NSW. Him being outside the parliament and current Lord Mayor is a novel twist, but the ethically bankrupt maneuvering that led to it is standard in all parties, large or small.  Much the same goes on in large corporations as well - some of the stuff that goes on in head office of the mob I work for is similar.

[Golliwog]

Then there was the other article, showing the true extent of the shenanigans that are going on. Newman announced a water policy of sorts to the media, which was the first the elected LNP MPs had heard of it, and both Seeney and Newman claimed they would be picking the new shadow ministry, but would consider input from the other.

The Courier Mail also detailed how Newman has started his campaign for Ashgrove, spending yesterday out and about in the electorate, yet he is still the Lord Mayor and is getting paid to lead the whole of Brisbane. I find this behavior repulsive.

[#Metro]

Wow, it is like "stab the leader" stabfest or something.
I've seen more leaders than I have seen new Courier-Mail editions!

[somebody]

Then there was the other article, showing the true extent of the shenanigans that are going on. Newman announced a water policy of sorts to the media, which was the first the elected LNP MPs had heard of it, and both Seeney and Newman claimed they would be picking the new shadow ministry, but would consider input from the other.

The Courier Mail also detailed how Newman has started his campaign for Ashgrove, spending yesterday out and about in the electorate, yet he is still the Lord Mayor and is getting paid to lead the whole of Brisbane. I find this behavior repulsive.

Yes.  A few things about this seem quite arrogant.

[Stillwater]

Well folks, you get your chance to register a protest or make a difference on polling day.  It's called democracy.  In Queensland though, it can't be guaranteed that the person or people you vote for will be the ones running the show.  In fact, there are indications that those who are in charge, Labor, are reacting to a tune whistled by someone outside the parliament.

The LNP should have 'persuaded' a sitting LNP member to resign due to health or family reasons, the usual vaguaries, and put up Campbell Newman in a by-election.  Once 'can-do' Campbell was in the parliament, they could then have brought in the party thuggie and had the night of the long knives, with Mr Newman emerging victorious as opposition leader.

The way chosen is very messy indead, or messier.

[O_128]

Well folks, you get your chance to register a protest or make a difference on polling day.  It's called democracy.  In Queensland though, it can't be guaranteed that the person or people you vote for will be the ones running the show.  In fact, there are indications that those who are in charge, Labor, are reacting to a tune whistled by someone outside the parliament.

The LNP should have 'persuaded' a sitting LNP member to resign due to health or family reasons, the usual vaguaries, and put up Campbell Newman in a by-election.  Once 'can-do' Campbell was in the parliament, they could then have brought in the party thuggie and had the night of the long knives, with Mr Newman emerging victorious as opposition leader.

The way chosen is very messy indead, or messier.

I agree very stupid thing to do , though a lot of my labor friends have said they will seriously consider voting liberal now that campbells running the show, my main issue how short some peoples memories are for eg the assets sell off

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State
The Honourable Paul Lucas
26/03/2011

Newman should keep his word and resign immediately as Lord Mayor

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas has called on Campbell Newman to resign immediately as Brisbane Lord Mayor.

"Mr Newman is now the LNP candidate for the State seat of Ashgrove and the LNP councillors on the Brisbane City Council have selected Graham Quirk as the new Lord Mayor.

"Therefore, it is time for Mr Newman to keep his word and resign," Mr Lucas said.

"Mr Newman should do the right thing and resign immediately as he said he would do once he was pre-selected as the LNP candidate for Ashgrove," Mr Lucas said.

"We now know that nominations for the seat have closed and that there is only one candidate.

"We know this because Norman Wicks wanted to challenge Mr Newman but didn't get the opportunity. When Mr Wicks announced his intention to nominate for pre-selection, he was told by the LNP that nominations closed on Wednesday, less than 36 hours after Mr Newman announced his intention to stand.

"So the pre-selection process was secretly closed off in a sneaky, tricky move by the faceless men of the LNP.

"Nonetheless, Mr Newman appears to be the only candidate for the LNP in Ashgrove.

"Therefore, he needs to resign as Lord Mayor as he said he would.

"Mr Newman told a media conference on Tuesday March 22: "...as soon as the issue's clear about the preselection, I will resign."

"He went on: "I hope that they (the LNP) can expedite it obviously because I've told you what I wish to do. I've told you what my plan is."

"Mr Newman told Sky News on the same day: "Should I succeed in gaining preselection with the LNP it's then my intention to resign the lord mayoralty and to then launch a leadership challenge for the leadership of the state LNP team."

"Campbell Newman has now turned his back on city of Brisbane - it's time for him to do right thing by Brisbane ratepayers and resign," Mr Lucas said.

"His decision to cling to the mayorality and the perks of office, now that a new Mayor has been selected, is just plain wrong."

==============================================================

[Stillwater]

The state parliamentary election and Queensland local government elections are both scheduled for March 2012.  Can you imagine the utter confusion if campaigning for state and council elections were to coincide?  One or two mayors are thinking of standing for state parliament.  The Scenic Rim mayor has publicly declared his intention to do so.  It is likely they would want a state election before the council elections, because they could gain profile in the state poll campaign that would provide impetus to their mayoral campaign should they not succeed in winning a state parliamentary seat.

The confusion would be worse in Brisbane, where a man people identify as their mayor (Mr Newman) most probably would be talking about council issues (water, roads, buses and, of course, tunnels) while standing for state office and wanting to be premier.

Some distance must be put between the council and state elections.  It also takes time to prepare for an election.  For the party in power, that includes putting the public service to work on devising a whole round of new policies (and scrutinising any announced Opposition policies for flaws). We also have a state Budget between now and the next state election.  It will have to be an 'election Budget' containing goodies that appeal.  That will be difficult, given the costs of reconstruction after the flood and cyclone disasters.

Federal Labor would be less inclined to give funds for big-ticket infrastructure projects to newly elected Conservative state governments in Victoria and (from today) NSW.  That puts Queensland in the box seat, from that perspective.  Federal Labor would want to shore up state Labor.  Imagine Anna Bligh and Julia Gillard standing on the same podium announcing CRR? It is a project that benefits many electorates.

It is also a point of differentiation.  Mr Newman's latest statement on CRR is that he opposes the project.  This allows Labor to attack Mr Newman as being 'anti public transport' and roads-centric.  So we can assume that the task of preparing the CRR business case will accelerate so that Labor can consider its financial implications in the out-years of both the state and federal budgets.

All of this points to a late 2011 state election.  Leaving it until then also gives a bit more rope to the LNP to entangle itself about the manner in which Mr Newman has arrived on the scene.  The infighting continues.

Mr Newman is meeting Sunshine Coast LNP members today, and while he says CAMCOS will not be on the agenda, he will be asking members their No.1 priorities in each of their electorates.  It is highly likely that Sunshine Coast Line rail duplication will come up in conversation.

Ms Bligh and Labor would not be too inclined to promise CAMCOS and duplication to Nambour before 2031 - the current timetable - but the LNP would be inclined to promise a bring-forward in circumstances where that party holds all SC seats with the exception of Nicklin, which is held by a popular independent.  Further north, Gympie is the safest LNP seat in the state.

Coast voters are highly unlikely to change their voting patterns, so their best chance of getting rail upgrades for their region - ironically in the timeframe first announced by the current Deputy Premier, Mr Paul Lucas - is to vote LNP and hope that an LNP Government wins power.

[#Metro]

That media release by Mr Lucas IMHO is totally out of order and, in my view, and utter misuse of public office privileges. Departmental media releases are not there to spout party propaganda or as back door political campaigning. What is the public office purpose of this media release???

Mr Newman does not have to resign, there is no law that says he must do so. How dare public resources be used for these purposes and not proper government business.

Not taking sides, but this is not what departmental media releases should be used for. If they want to come out with stuff like this, a media release from the party they are affiliated with it more than appropriate.

[Stillwater]

Most likely the media release was prepared by a staffer in Mr Lucas' office.  While ministerial staff receive a salary from the public purse, technically they are not public servants.  Public servants are hired by individual departments.  The jobs of ministerial staff disappear if the government is voted out of office.  This is not the case with the public service generally -- it goes on to serve the government of the day.

[ozbob]

The Sunday Mail --> Newman on track to beat Bligh

Word of caution, a Brisbane based poll is not representative, but don't let that get in the way .. lol

[Stillwater]

If there is a swing away from the ALP due to the 'Newman factor', it is interesting to examine the marginal electorates that would go to the LNP.  And the public transport issues in those electorates that the ALP in Queensland holds by less than 5 per cent.  Let's look at a couple and the rail transport issue pertinent to each electorate.

Ferny Grove - frequency on the Ferny Grove Line, linked to better bus connections.
Pine Rivers, Pumicestone and Kalangur - Caboolture Line, Petrie-Kippa Ring Line.

This is a mortgage belt area, where people are hurting due to the high cost of living, exacerbated by utilities pricing, the cost of fuel, rego hikes and PT ticketing changes.  It stands to reason that other mortgage belts on Brisbane's southside would be hurting also, so Beenleigh line frequency and ticketing could be elevated to an election issue in those areas.

[mufreight]

They used to be rusted on Labor but public transport issues and rail workers disafected by the asset sales topped off with the perceived mismanagement of Wivernhoe in the recent floods and a litany of broken promises by seemingly arrogant and intransigent local members has lost any electrol advantage that Labor might have had in the three Ipswich region seats which are now not even marginal.

[Fares_Fair]

It was reported on ABC radio this morning, Campbell Newman has promised to dismantle the water utilities and their exorbitantly overpaid (mostly) labor party executives
and hand them back to the Councils.
There is a huge vote winner there - the current government's mismanagement of all things financial will come home to roost.
Water, Electricity, Asset Sales, PT fares to name a few.

All are minimum 15% increases and above.

At the same time they offer 2.5% to their most critical public servants, e.g. police, nurses etc. and give their water execs salaries of up to $400k.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Golliwog]

It was reported on ABC radio this morning, Campbell Newman has promised to dismantle the water utilities and their exorbitantly overpaid (mostly) labor party executives
and hand them back to the Councils.
There is a huge vote winner there - the current government's mismanagement of all things financial will come home to roost.
Water, Electricity, Asset Sales, PT fares to name a few.

All are minimum 15% increases and above.

At the same time they offer 2.5% to their most critical public servants, e.g. police, nurses etc. and give their water execs salaries of up to $400k.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

But has he consulted with the MP's on this one? Or is it just the same as his other promise on water from last week where he said he was going to combine the  5 water utulities companies into one and change the pricing scheme to pay off the debt over 40 years instead of 20? And where he went agaist current LNP policy of limiting water rate hikes to inflation?

[Fares_Fair]

It was reported on ABC radio this morning, Campbell Newman has promised to dismantle the water utilities and their exorbitantly overpaid (mostly) labor party executives
and hand them back to the Councils.
There is a huge vote winner there - the current government's mismanagement of all things financial will come home to roost.
Water, Electricity, Asset Sales, PT fares to name a few.

All are minimum 15% increases and above.

At the same time they offer 2.5% to their most critical public servants, e.g. police, nurses etc. and give their water execs salaries of up to $400k.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

But has he consulted with the MP's on this one? Or is it just the same as his other promise on water from last week where he said he was going to combine the  5 water utulities companies into one and change the pricing scheme to pay off the debt over 40 years instead of 20? And where he went agaist current LNP policy of limiting water rate hikes to inflation?

I do not know Golliwog, but I could pretty well guarantee every LNP member would support it. The public position on this would be a guaranteed election winner on it's own IMHO.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Mr Newman said he was going to merge all the water entities into one.  Now he says he will scrap them and give responsibility for water back to councils.  Last year Mr Newman said he supported CRR, this year he says he doesn't.

Mr Newman is going all around the state obviously asking LMP members what are the big issues in their region.  He was on the Sunshine Coast yesterday to meet local MPs and today is in the media saying he will fast-track the biggest thing bugging people on the coast -- the new University Hospital.  Like rail projects for the coast, it was announced, and then postponed by the Bligh government.

It would be most unfortunate if the LNP plan is just to tell people what they want to hear, or that a stenographer should be engaged to run around after Mr Newman writing down whatever he says - and that becomes 'policy'.

[Golliwog]

This is a very interesting read: http://blogs.news.com.au/couriermail/pineapplepolitics/index.php/couriermail/comments/can_do_versus_the_pineapple/

Its the transcript of Campbell Newman's interview with Patrick Lion aka "The Pineapple" for todays Agenda feature in the Sunday Mail.

Has some worrying lines for his mindset on roads and public transport. My taking is he's still very much roads first, PT as an after thought for whatevers left.

[ozbob]

Courier Mail --> Galaxy Poll reveals voters are split on where they want Campbell Newman

[mufreight]

He might be popular in polls but seems to have lost sight of the basic fact that it is not just him but a credible team and policies that he must present to the people of this State, to date it has been just Newman, not a team despite a few talented people (and a few lame ducks) presently as sitting members, and an appaling absence of policy.
His espoused road centric transport policies and comments such as scrapping CRR have lost much of the support that the LNP had gained in the Ipswich region where the voters are tired of the failures of local Labor members to act in their interests.