FORMER Treasurer Tim Nicholls, named leader of the Opposition on Friday, will be reminded of road funding promises he made to the people of Redlands and his hard-line stance on privatisation when he was in government.
Mr Nicholls beat Lawrence Springborg 22 to 19 in the final of two ballots after a third contender, Tim Mander was knocked out in the first vote only garnering 10 votes.
During last year's state election campaign, the then Treasurer visited Capalaba and said if the LNP was returned he would spend $250,000 to extend a right-hand turning lane at the lights at Redland Bay Road and Moreton Bay Road.
As the Newman government’s Treasurer, he also headed the $37billion Strong Choices campaign, a controversial policy to lease state assets including ports.
Capalaba MP Don Brown, who won the seat for the ALP at the election, was scathing about the changes at the top of the Opposition.
"It is clear the LNP want to go back to the Newman era by electing 'Mr Strong Choices'," he said.
"This is the treasurer who sacked 14,000 public sector workers, saw our economy slow by 2per cent and unemployment increase to 6.9 per cent."
But Redland City's two Opposition MPs stood by their new leader, both claiming to back him.
Redlands MP Matt McEachan said the ballot was close but he was happy to get behind Mr Nicholls and his deputy Nanango MP Deb Frecklington to hold the Palaszczuk government to account.
"Both Tim and Deb have visited Redlands and Deb visited last week," Mr McEachan said.
"They both understand Redlands infrastructure needs and have seen first hand the congestion on Cleveland-Redland Bay Road.
"No matter the political landscape, I will always fight for Redlands first and Tim and Deb both know that."
His colleague, Cleveland MP Mark Robinson, said he would lobby Mr Nicholls to take up the plight of sand miners on North Stradbroke Island who were set to lose their jobs as early as 2019 under the Labor government.
"The new LNP leadership team will continue to hold this Labor Government to account for job losses all over Queensland, in particular its plan for hundreds of jobs to be cut on North Stradbroke Island."
