In a massive change of plans, the LNP campaign has abandoned its electoral blitz in north Queensland to return to Brisbane.

Premier Campbell Newman, who had been joined by Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney, had planned to do a last-minute tour of vulnerable seats, with Cairns and Townsville both on the list along with at least one other location before returning to Brisbane.

But journalists following the campaign were told shortly after the Cairns press conference - dominated by questions about the Ashgrove poll result and corruption fighter Tony Fitzgerald's comments - they would be returning straight to Brisbane.