Returned LNP leader Lawrence Springborg holds a press conference with his deputy John-Paul Langbroek after they were elected by the LNP party room. Credit:Cameron Atfield "This is a matter of trust, competence and experience," he said. In an apparent pitch to waivering crossbenchers, or perhaps the voters of Ferny Grove who could be forced back to the polls in a by-election, Mr Springborg said the caretaker LNP government would continue to run the state until the election result was known. "This is about stability," he said. "It is about experience, it is about being able to prove that you can run difficult portfolios in difficult times."

New LNP leader Lawrence Springborg with MP Glen Elmes. Credit:Robert Shakespeare Mr Springborg has led the LNP or the pre-amalgamation National Party twice before, losing three elections to Labor. Party whip Ted Sorensen announced the party room's decision at 1.45pm on Saturday after a marathon meeting that started at 11am. John-Paul Langbroek has been chosen as deputy leader. Credit:Renee Melides When asked whether he would provide the voting margins, Mr Sorensen was not forthcoming.

"No, definitely not," he said. Battered and bruised from last week's disastrous state election, the LNP's surviving members – along with several new faces – took almost three hours to decide the leadership issue. Mr Newman, who lost his seat of Ashgrove to Labor's Kate Jones, was absent from the meeting. Labor MP Jackie Trad, who would likely gain a cabinet position in a Palaszczuk ministry, poured scorn on the LNP's choice to recycle its former leaders. "Today, the Liberal National Party had an opportunity to draw a line in the sand and distance themselves from the chaos, the arrogance and the dysfunction of the past three years," she said.

"They turned their back on that opportunity and what they did was reach back into the past to deal with the challenges of the future." Two men whose votes were crucial for the LNP's chances to form minority government, Katter's Australian Party MPs Shane Knuth and Robbie Katter, were more welcoming of the Springborg-Langbroek leadership team. But Mr Knuth stressed that did not equate to support on the floor of Parliament. On that, the so-called "Katter boys" remained uncommitted. "We indicated very, very strongly that we would not do negotiations with the previous LNP leadership team," Mr Knuth said.

"The people of Queensland rejected that style of government and (the Newman government leaders) were also the architects of asset sales and the sacking of 15,000 employees." Mr Knuth said he and Mr Katter were still in negotiation with both the LNP and Labor and they were happy to speak with both Mr Springborg and Mr Langbroek. The other confirmed crossbencher, Nicklin independent Peter Wellington, has already signalled his support for Ms Palaszczuk's Labor team. The other factor in play was Ferny Grove, which could be forced to a by-election following revelations the Palmer United Party's candidate, Mark Taverner, was an undischarged bankrupt and therefore ineligible to run for office. The LNP is considering legal action in the Court of Disputed Returns should the party's Dale Shuttlewoth not retain the seat over Labor's Mark Furner.

Mr Springborg refused to be drawn on what should happen in the north-west Brisbane electorate. "That is not up to me and it should not be up to me," he said. "It should be up to the courts in Queensland if it actually ends up being disputed. "It's not a matter for me to decide that and that would be highly inappropriate and it would be highly inappropriate for me to even give a suggestion about what should happen there." Ms Trad, however, had no such qualms.