Queensland LNP members have called time on the 'father of the Senate' Ian Macdonald and fellow senator Barry O'Sullivan, dumping them from the top spots on the party's Upper House ticket.

The pre-selection took place in Brisbane on Friday afternoon, where it was confirmed both veterans would be replaced with political newcomers.

Senator Macdonald's 28-year career will come to an end at the next election, as will that of Senator O'Sullivan; who was appointed by the Queensland Parliament to the Senate seat vacated by Barnaby Joyce in 2014.

The Liberal National Party's executive and senior members voted to replace Senator Macdonald in the number one position with mining executive Paul Scarr, after earlier rejecting a pre-selection bid by former Newman government minister Scott Emerson.

Businesswoman Susan McDonald beat Senator O'Sullivan for the number two spot, while Gerard Rennick was third.

Senator Barry O'Sullivan lost the number two spot to Susan McDonald. ( Supplied: Barry O'Sullivan )

Senator Macdonald also lost a bid to survive via the difficult third place on the ballot, and instead won the fourth spot, which would be almost impossible for the LNP to win.

Tree lopper Brad Carswell took fifth place and Nicole Tobin was sixth.

In recent years, Senator Macdonald opposed moves to scrap free flights for former parliamentarians and questioned whether there was enough racism in Australia to require the race discrimination commissioner.

Mr Macdonald made no comment to journalists after the vote.

New LNP candidates Gerard Rennick, Paul Scarr, party president Gary Spence and candidate Susan McDonald. ( ABC News: Lexy Hamilton-Smith )

LNP Queensland president Gary Spence said Senators MacDonald and Sullivan had been "tremendous servants" to the party.

But he said the new-look lineup had "a very good message to sell".

"It's a stronger team of Senate candidates as I have ever seen," he said.