Former Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney insists his decision to leave Queensland politics for Canberra is no reflection on Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg's leadership.
Mr Seeney and Toowoomba South MP John McVeigh have confirmed they'll seek Liberal National Party preselection for the federal seats of Wide Bay and Groom respectively.
When asked whether his decision meant he no longer had faith in Mr Springborg's leadership, Mr Seeney replied: "Not at all.
"I've been considering my future here in the Queensland parliament since last year for fairly obvious reasons," Mr Seeney said.
"For me, it's a question of where I can best achieve for the people of regional Queensland."
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Mr Seeney has spent the last year on the backbench after the former Newman government's shock election defeat.
Meanwhile, Chatsworth MP Steve Minnikin has been dumped as deputy opposition whip for unsuccessfully attempting to mount a leadership coup to have LNP frontbencher Tim Mander replace Mr Springborg.
Mr Seeney insisted Mr Springborg's leadership was "exemplary".
"I think some young fellas learnt that ambition is no substitute for experience," Mr Seeney said.
"I think over the past week that lesson ... has been well learnt by some people who will remember it."
Wide Bay is being vacated by former Nationals leader Warren Truss, and Groom by veteran LNP figure Ian MacFarlane, who are both retiring.
Both are considered safe LNP seats.
Nominations will close for the seats on March 7, meaning by-elections in Mr Seeney's Callide, and Toowoomba South, would be organised after then, if the preselection attempt of either MP was successful.
