Premier Campbell Newman and his ministers have bandied together to dismiss Police Union claims at least six LNP backbenchers are looking to jump ship and become independents as "mischief" and "simply not true".
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But Police Union vice-president Shayne Maxwell stood by his claims, which were published in the August edition of the organisation's journal, and said LNP MPs had spoken to him about their concerns that Mr Newman would lose Ashgrove and Treasurer Tim Nicholls would become Premier.
"They have approached me personally in relation to seeking support in the law and order reform and obtaining better budgets for the Queensland Police members," he told Fairfax Media 4BC Mornings.
"They have concerned and they have all expressed that Campbell Newman and Jack Dempsey are good people but they have expressed concerns about the Cabinet budget review committee that has been headed by Tim Nicholls and the approval of projects around Queensland.
"They have concerns at the next election, they fear that Campbell Newman might not get back in in the seat of Ashgrove, there are concerns that Tim Nicholls might get the top job."
But Mr Newman said his team were united.
"I will say this - I have an enormous amount of time for them, we have worked very productively, particularly with President Ian Leavers, but in terms of this commentary, I am afraid it is a bit of mischief," Mr Newman said.
"I can only say that it is mischief. We have greatly resourced the police service since we got into office, there are 800 extra police on the beat today, two police helicopters, three police boats that have been put into service, there is new iPad technology, 1500 units which have been put out there on the beat and over a billion dollars being spent on a secure digital radio network and that is happening because I have a very strong, solid, professional team that are working together to really get behind the Queensland police service."
Transport Minister Scott Emerson made a similar argument.
Snr Sgt Maxwell has refused to name the backbenchers who have approached him but Opposition spokeswoman Jackie Trad said it was "incumbent" on the "MPs themselves to have the courage and integrity to come forward and explain to their electorates that they have lost fair in the leadership of Campbell Newman, Jeff Seeney and Tim Nicholls to steer the government through a political course to the next election".
"I think if Queenslanders look back at the history of the LNP government over the past two-and-a-half years, they started with 78 seats, they have whittled down to 73 seats and there is still more disgruntlement over the direction that Tim Nicholls particularly is taking this government in over the sale of assets," Ms Trad said.
"We know that there is a lot of money being spent, shoving it down Queenslanders throat and no one is buying it."