Deposed Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has broken his two-month silence in the wake of the LNP's resounding election defeat, saying he twice offered to stand down as party leader prior to the campaign.
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Mr Newman said he offered to resign as leader if it meant the move would increase the chances of the LNP retaining government in the 2015 election.
"I put it on the table because I wanted to make sure that we didn't go into the 2015 election with me pulling the team down," Mr Newman told News Corporation.
"I wanted them to have the best opportunity. I was genuine about it and quite happy to have given a new leader a chance to lead us into the election if I was an electoral liability."
Mr Newman said he made the first offer to quit the party leadership in the wake of the Stafford by-election drubbing in July last year.
Labor's Anthony Lyneham claimed the seat vacated by Chris Davis in a landslide, following Dr Davis' acrimonious departure from the LNP.
He said his second offer was made two or three months later.
"It was a start-up meeting for the 2015 campaign," Mr Newman said.
"At the very beginning of the meeting, before the formal agenda, the first thing I did was say, 'I have to put on the table, have I passed my use-by date?'
"But I was told very clearly that I should continue on."
The interview with Mr Newman comes as former parliamentarian Gavin King announced a publishing deal for the book he is writing profiling the former premier.
Mr King said Victorian publisher Connor Court has agreed to publish the book, which is due for release in late 2015.
