Rumours persist of a rift between the LNP state executive and its members, including the parliamentary arm, after Ros Bates won the support of Mudgeeraba branch members against the wishes of party bosses on Tuesday night.
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Ms Bates was overwhelmingly supported by Mudgeeraba branch members to stand as their candidate in the next election, a day after ousted Moggill MP Bruce Flegg's challenger was rejected in a yes/no vote.
Earlier this month, the pair, along with Redlands MP Peter Dowling, were called before the LNP executive to explain why they deserved to stand for pre-selection in their respective seats.
On Tuesday night, the only no votes against Ms Bates came from members of the LNP state executive, according to The Courier Mail.
Health Minister Lawrence Springborg, who as the only government minister with a scheduled press conference was left to face questions about the dispute, did not give a definitive answer on the matter.
"Not really," he said when asked if there was a rift.
"I think it's very healthy and I think it actually shows that when it comes to the primacy of power within the our organisation, it is vested and rests with the grassroots members.
"People can have their own views.
"They can actually put forward a view whereas in the Labor Party there is only one view that dominates and that's the view of the union bosses."
He said disagreements were "healthy".
"I think what it shows is that the membership of the LNP are the ones that really do have control over what happens in their area locally and that's something that I salute and endorse," he said.
"I have always believed in the membership. Of course the executive should always have their view but compare that to the Labor Party where it is the central executive and the unions that choose the candidates, not the local members.
"No one can accuse the LNP of not being a very robust and strongly dominated, local, grassroots organisation and I think that's healthy."
Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney publicly announced he "strongly disagreed" with the state executive's actions regarding Dr Flegg, ahead of Monday night's yes/no vote in Moggill.
Mr Springborg would not say whether or not he agreed with Mr Seeney.
"Through the Premier in Queensland, he has expressed a view, which has been annunciated through the Deputy Premier as well, that they support the existing members of parliament, that's what the DP has said," Mr Springborg said.
"What I'm saying is that the rank and file members of the party are the ones that maintain the primacy of the interests of the organisation and they've shown it."
Redlands MP Peter Dowling - who won international notoriety when lewd pictures he sexted his mistress were made public and recently had to deny liking a Facebook site featuring scantily clad women and links to porn sites - will face his branch members on Saturday.
