Qld: Horan says he can weather leadership challenge

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Qld: Horan says he can weather leadership challenge

By Rosemary Desmond

BRISBANE, Feb 2 AAP - Opposition leader Mike Horan was confident he could weather apolitical storm which could depose him as Queensland National Party leader this month.

Mr Horan today believed he had the numbers to beat off a challenge from rival LawrenceSpringborg at a party room meeting on February 24.

"Mike has done a ring around today and he's confident he's got the support," a spokesmanfor Mr Horan said.

If Mr Springborg believed he had the numbers, he should make a challenge for the partyleadership.

"Basically, he should put up or shut up," the spokesman said.

The state election was expected to be called by February next year to be held by May,at the latest.

Liberal Leader Bob Quinn said today a Morgan poll on Friday showed the Liberals weremoving forward in a "David vs Goliath" battle to unseat Labor MPs.

But Mr Quinn said debate over a possible challenge to Mr Horan was overshadowing theLiberals' gains in the polls.

The poll showed only nine per cent of voters were prepared to back the Nationals, comparedwith 23 per cent for the Liberals and 51 per cent for Labor.

Premier Peter Beattie also believed the Nationals should resolve their differencesover the party's leadership and Mr Springborg should take the helm.

"I would expect them to be much more formidable as an opposition and I would expecta lot more painful time and I expect the next election to be a lot tougher if there wasa change in leadership," Mr Beattie said.

Mr Beattie acknowledged a drop in support for Labor was a result of fall-out from hishandling of the levy to fund the state's ambulance service.

The Morgan poll showed Labor suffered a 2.5 per cent drop in Labor's popularity to51 per cent in November and December, its lowest level for 12 months.

"Part of that drop was the way I handled the ambulance levy - I've got no doubt about that."

"We will work very hard to win people's support and the next election."

The government was now finalising details of how the new levy would be imposed afterplans were dropped last year to include the new tax with rates bills, he said.

AAP rad/cjh/ts

KEYWORD: HORAN NIGHTLEAD