Qld LNP rumbles dismissed as 'rumours'

The Queensland opposition continues to be mired in talk of a challenge to Liberal National Party leader Lawrence Springborg.

Queensland opposition leader Lawrence Springborg

Queensland Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg is fending off speculation he's about to be rolled. (AAP)

Queensland's deputy opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek has dismissed as "rumour and speculation" continuing leadership rumbles within the Liberal National Party.

Lawrence Springborg is reportedly facing the possibility of a challenge by former treasurer Tim Nicholls and former NRL referee Tim Mander to remove him from the party's top job.

Mr Springborg was in Weipa, on the Cape York Peninsula, on Monday with Mr Nicholls for a mine inspection trip.

"So far all we've seen is rumour and speculation," Mr Langbroek told reporters in Brisbane when asked if there would be a challenge at next week's party room meeting.

"I'm getting on with the job focusing on the things I know Queenslanders want us to."

Mr Langbroek refused to say who he would vote for in any "hypothetical" coup, insisting it was best to "wait and see how the week plays out".

"I support Lawrence Springborg. He's the leader of the party. Anything else beyond that is speculation," he said.

But one thing was clear - Mr Langbroek insisted he would not be challenging for the top job himself and was happy to serve as Mr Springborg's deputy.

When asked if he would serve as anyone's deputy, he replied: "I'm not even entertaining the concept of what we may or may not do into the future".

Deputy premier Jackie Trad said the LNP was mired in talk of the challenge.

"This is a party that's more focused on themselves than they are focused on delivering for Queenslanders," she said.

Mr Springborg on Sunday said he believed he had the support of the majority of his colleagues and labelled new speculation as "annoying".

Reports of the plan to oust him followed the LNP's successful bill to increase the number of state MPs from 89 to 93.

That legislation was cunningly transformed into a defeat by Labor's move to amend it and include the reintroduction of compulsory preferential voting which will advantage the ALP at future elections.

Some media outlets have reported party-room support is highest for Mr Nicholls with 17, while Mr Springborg and Mr Mander are locked on 12 votes each.

While the LNP has 42 seats in parliament, Toowoomba South MP John McVeigh has resigned to stand for Groom at the upcoming federal election, forcing the LNP into a front bench reshuffle.


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Source: AAP



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