Back to farm

Lawrence and Linda Springborg, pictured at Opera in the Vineyard earlier this year.

By Jeremy Sollars

LAWRENCE Springborg has refused to rule out a tilt at the senate at the next federal election – but for now he sees himself “back on the farm” at Yelarbon when he retires from politics after the next state election.
The veteran Southern Downs MP of almost 30 years dropped a bombshell during an LNP gathering at the Tannymorel Hall east of Warwick at the weekend when he announced he would not be re-contesting the seat.
The next state election is due in January 2018 but there is widespread speculation Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk could go to the polls in early to mid-2017, with her minority government on a parliamentary knife-edge.
The surge in popularity of One Nation in Queensland also has both the ALP and the LNP in Queensland spooked and adds a wild-card factor to the current political scene in the Sunshine State.
Mr Springborg told the party faithful at Tannymorel of his decision to stand down from the Southern Downs seat before releasing a statement to local and state-wide media.
Mr Springborg was coy later in the week when asked by the Free Times what his plans were for life post-politics.
When asked if he would rule out having a shot at the senate – with the next federal election due in July 2019 – he referred us to a line in his statement from Saturday, where he said it was “time to close this chapter of my political and public life and move onto the next one, whatever that may be”.
He then said of a senate bid that “nothing can ever be ruled out” and while he was “not into speculation” life was full of “twists and turns”.
But he said at this stage he saw himself returning to the Springborg family property at Yelarbon after the next state election, whenever it is held.
The Springborg family are sheep and cattle producers, with a portion of their property leased out for grain-growing in recent years.
Mr Springborg and his wife Linda have four children, with the youngest having graduated from Year 12 this year and the others having either completed university or still studying.
“I suppose you could say we’re empty-nesters technically – with the boomerang effect you normally see,” he said.
In his Saturday media statement Mr Springborg said he had been “very privileged to be given such an opportunity by the people of Southern Downs, to be their parliamentary representative”.
“This decision gives a proper and respectful amount of time for those interested in representing the LNP, to talk with their families and put their names forward,” he said in the statement.
“It also gives a proper amount of time for local party members to select their candidate and the people of Southern Downs to get to know the candidate before the next state election.
“Ten terms ago, following my first election, I stood in the Queensland Parliament and delivered my maiden speech.
“I outlined my values, beliefs and aspirations, founded on principles of individual liberty and responsibility, small government, lower taxation, enterprise and aspiration, underpinned by a belief in private property rights and the rule of law and family. Those beliefs have not changed.
“I said in that speech, that if I could enjoy 15 years representing the people of my electorate and Queensland, it may be time to pull up stumps. Yesterday, that 15 years turned into 27 years.”
Mr Springborg is currently the subject of a police investigation into ALP claims he misled a parliamentary committee in 2013 while Health Minister over when the decision was made to close the Barrett Adolescent Centre in Brisbane.
He has said he will “welcome the resolution” of the matter but has declined to comment further.
LNP state president Gary Spence said it was “with great sadness that I received advice from Lawrence Springborg of his intention to not re-contest the next state election”.
“Lawrence has been a leading figure in Queensland politics since he was first elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly in 1989.
“He has held a number of portfolios, both during times in Opposition and in Government, and led the Opposition four times during his career.
“However, Lawrence’s greatest contribution to politics in Queensland was his foresight and determination to forge a single, united conservative party, and to give Queenslanders a real choice at the ballot box.
“Undoubtedly he will go down in history as the architect of the LNP, and rightly so.
“Since the merger of the former Liberal and National parties in 2008, the LNP has grown to be the largest and most successful political party in the nation.”