Queensland Premier Campbell Newman denies the LNP is a divided party, and says his relationship with the treasurer is as good as ever.
Mr Newman says any suggestion of growing hostilities with Treasurer Tim Nicholls are "an absolute giggle".
He made the comments after the LNP's executive committee banned Moggill MP Bruce Flegg from recontesting his seat for the party.
Dr Flegg later said behind-the-scenes factional warfare was behind the decision to dump him, and that key LNP figures were working on a leadership succession plan in the belief the premier would lose his seat at next year's election.
Mr Newman, who wanted Dr Flegg to recontest Moggill, says the party is united, and there's no rift between the party's executive and the parliamentary wing.
He also said he and the treasurer remained "great mates", amid commentary by political analysts that Mr Nicholls is a likely successor if Mr Newman loses.
"I think anybody who saw yesterday's press conference (on asset privatisation) would say these are two blokes who are equals in intellect, who are great friends and working every single day for Queensland," Mr Newman told Fairfax Radio.
"If we were bunging it on or pretending then everyone would know that."
Mr Nicholls laughed off questions about any leadership aspirations he held when he appeared on ABC television earlier this week.
Mr Newman also said he and LNP state president Bruce McIver had a "terrific working relationship", despite differences of opinion over Dr Flegg.
The premier said he expressed to Mr McIver his disappointment about the Moggill MP's disendorsement. But he said the LNP was a democracy and even he "must bow down" to members' decisions about who can stand.
"They are the ones who decide who our candidates are," Mr Newman said.
"At the end of the day that's what democracy is about."
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