Speaker Fiona Simpson's public desire to claim the Queensland LNP's leadership has thrown the party's hope of a "smooth transition" into disarray.
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney stood down from his leadership role on Monday, declaring an LNP party room meeting on Tuesday morning would decide on a fresh leadership team to either negotiate to try to form a minority government or lead from the opposition benches.
But there's confusion over whether the meeting will actually go ahead, with Ms Simpson later saying Mr Seeney had no authority to call the meeting.
Premier Campbell Newman, who lost his seat but is still acting in his role as caretaker, also appeared to overrule his deputy by tweeting two hours after his announcement that: "The @LNPQLD party room will be held when the outcome in seats still undecided is clear."
Mr Seeney, who threw his support behind Treasurer Tim Nicholls and Health Minister Lawrence Springborg, said the private party room meeting would avoid the sort of divisive leadership contest the Liberal National Party struggled with before Mr Newman led the party to its 2012 landslide victory.
"What I don't want to see is some sort of disunity, some sort of leadership battle, so I have been working to try and make sure that we have a smooth transition to a fresh, new leadership team," Mr Seeney said.
But any hope of that was short-lived, with Ms Simpson taking to airwaves and then holding a press conference almost immediately after Mr Seeney's to declare: "I'd love the job".
Ms Simpson, buoyed by recent polls that have put her as favourite to lead the LNP, says the party has to admit it had "stuffed up" and steer clear of the confrontational leadership style typical of the Newman government.
She indicated she probably wouldn't attend a party room meeting even if there was one.
"This shouldn't be about deals in small rooms and I think people are sick of that on both sides of politics," Ms Simpson said.
"Why I'm talking (publicly) is because people are saying to me `this is the sort of leadership we want'.
"And I may not have the support of the party room (but) I know I've got support of the broader poll in the electorate."
Mr Seeney also acknowledged the LNP government's unpopular leadership style, saying it may have arisen because Mr Newman, who went directly from Brisbane's lord mayor to Queensland's premier, brought staff with him that weren't used to the consultative nature of the state tier.
Nevertheless, he said the LNP's $37 billion asset leasing plan was dead given the party had not been given a mandate.
Mr Seeney had insisted on Monday morning he had the authority to call the party room meeting, saying he was the most senior elected LNP MP, given Mr Newman had lost his seat.
But after Mr Newman's comments, a spokeswoman for Mr Seeney said the meeting appeared to have been cancelled and directed AAP to the premier's office for confirmation.
Comment has been sought.
Labor is on track to form a minority government with the help of Katter's Australian Party and independents, but it may also be able to govern in its own right with three key seats still too close to call.
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