{"id":282960,"date":"2020-11-02T10:59:37","date_gmt":"2020-11-02T00:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=282960"},"modified":"2020-11-03T20:53:13","modified_gmt":"2020-11-03T10:53:13","slug":"longest-day-of-a-tough-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/11\/02\/longest-day-of-a-tough-campaign\/","title":{"rendered":"Longest Day Of A Tough Campaign"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tom Wilson, Lucy Frecklington (with Roly, 10 weeks) and Deb and Zac Dennien at the Taabinga Polling Booth on Saturday morning … there was a long day ahead of them<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 2, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

UPDATE: Deb Frecklington announced at 11:35am on Monday that she was resigning as LNP leader.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

“I am the leader and I do take responsibility for the election loss, ” Mrs Frecklington told reporters.<\/p>\n

“It was a difficult year for the Opposition; it was a difficult election for the Opposition.<\/p>\n

“At the start of 2020, the LNP (had) a very strong prospect of winning this election.<\/p>\n

“There is no doubt that COVID has had a huge impact on Queensland politics.”<\/p>\n

She thanked her family and volunteers and said she was proud of the policies and the candidates the LNP had put forward.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I am determined as ever to fight on, on behalf of the people of Nanango and the people of Queensland,” she said.<\/p>\n

She wished her successor “all the very best” and said she was\u00a0willing to serve in any capacity under a new leader.<\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington said she was looking forward to enjoying a wine at the Kumbia Races on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

In an official statement on Monday afternoon, Mrs Frecklington said it was “a great honour and a privilege” to be elected for a fourth term as the Member for Nanango.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI am very humbled and sincerely thank the community for putting their faith in me. I took on this role to make a difference in our regional areas, and I will continue to fight for our fair share in the Nanango Electorate,” she said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere is so much opportunity right here, but it needs backing with better roads, better health services and less red and green tape for our primary producers and small business.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThis is what I\u2019ll be working to achieve for our Nanango Electorate communities \u2013 right across the South Burnett, Somerset, northern Toowoomba, Cherbourg and western Gympie areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll continue to work hard each and every day because I love this area, and the people who call our beautiful part of the world home.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

EARLIER:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It wasn’t a celebration for LNP supporters in Kingaroy on Saturday night but it wasn’t a wake, either, as tired and sunburnt booth volunteers gathered to hear the results of the State Election.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington cruised to victory in her own seat – although no results have yet been officially declared – but her role as Opposition Leader meant she was in Brisbane rather than with her local team as the numbers rolled in.<\/p>\n

Mrs Frecklington was surrounded by family members – many of whom had travelled down to Brisbane after working all day on South Burnett booths – when she fronted the TV cameras after it was clear the LNP would not be able to form government.<\/p>\n

Supporters cheered after Mrs Frecklington declared defiantly she intended to stay on as LNP Leader.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But Deputy Leader Tim Mander, speaking earlier on ABC-TV, seemed less sure about the future leadership of the party.<\/p>\n

And former party leader – and now Sky News contributor – Campbell Newman was scathing on social media, stating: “Spare me the COVID-19 excuse for what’s happening tonight in Qld. The LNP primary vote was 36pc a year ago. We had a problem prior to the pandemic”.<\/p>\n

Calling for a leadership spill, he said he was surprised Mrs Frecklington had not done it already.<\/p>\n

Speculation on ABC Radio and in the metropolitan media on Monday morning was that a spill would be called before the end of this week.<\/p>\n