MAVERICK Liberal National Party backbencher Aidan McLindon has urged other ambitious colleagues to put their names forward for the deputy leadership today.
The first-term backbencher, 29, stunned his parliamentary colleagues yesterday by announcing a bid to unseat Deputy Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg, saying the party must re-energise or face another election loss.
The matter will be settled at a party room meeting this morning.
Mr McLindon told brisbanetimes.com.au last night the challenge was not necessarily designed to ensure he became the deputy leader.
"I've made it quite open to all members this isn't my show," he said.
"I'd encourage [other] people to step forward, absolutely.
"As long as it triggers a positive change then none of this has been done in vain."
Mr McLindon, who grabbed headlines for storming the stage at the Big Brother season finale in 2005, would not spell out which other MPs would make suitable candidates.
He also refused to say who might second his spill motion, but insisted he continued to support Opposition Leader John-Paul Langbroek and only the deputy position should be changed.
Mr Langbroek yesterday threw his support behind Mr Springborg, saying the challenge was remarkable coming from an MP who had only been in the parliament for 10 months.
"I'm very happy with the job Lawrence has done - his experience is widely respected around Queensland," Mr Langbroek said.
"He literally is the father of the LNP and I would welcome him being returned as my deputy. I expect that."
Mr Springborg, who led the conservatives to three consecutive election losses but won praise for overseeing the merger of the Queensland Liberal and National parties in 2008, would not comment yesterday.
Mal Brough, the last president of the Queensland Liberal party before the merger, last night blasted the new party on the eve of the party room brawl.
Mr Brough told brisbanetimes.com.au last night voters had been let down by both sides of politics.
"I think the Queensland public are very disappointed with the Government and the Opposition," the former Howard Government frontbencher said.
"They [voters] are thinking there's a hell of a vaccum, and they're paying the price for that.
"I don't think any of them are doing a good job at all."
Mr Brough had a falling out with the new party after he insisted a former Liberal should be its first president, because the initial parliamentary leader would be from the Nationals.
Today's LNP caucus meeting comes a week before the first sitting of State Parliament for 2010.
LNP frontbenchers Tim Nicholls and Fiona Simpson, who both ran for the leadership after last year's election loss, refused to comment yesterday on what might happen at the meeting.
Mr McLindon, a former Logan City councillor, dumped from a parliamentary committee at the weekend after calling for Mr Springborg to move out of the leadership team, and may yet face further disciplinary action.
The first-term backbencher grabbed headlines last week after labelling his party unelectable in an email that was leaked to the media.
Email a friend