Qld: Caltibiano says Premier could be a Liberal

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2006
Qld: Caltibiano says Premier could be a Liberal

BRISBANE, Aug 17 AAP - Senior Queensland Liberal MP Michael Caltabiano says his party
will provide the next premier if it wins more seats at the September 9 elections.

Mr Caltabiano, who is the Liberals' Treasurer and member for the Brisbane seat of Chatsworth,
told the Courier-Mail newspaper today it was "standard practice in politics" for the premier
to come from the party with the most seats.

"If you have the numbers in government, you provide the leadership to govern," Mr Caltabiano
said.

Yesterday, Liberal leader Bruce Flegg dismissed the idea as a "fanciful hypothetical".

Nationals leader Lawrence Springborg said the Liberals had never won more seats than
the Nationals in Queensland and such a scenario would not happen at next month's election.

Centrebet odds on a Coalition victory in the September 9 poll firmed yesterday to $5.50
after opening at $8 when the election was called on Tuesday.

But Labor remains hot favourite at $1.12 after opening at $1.05.

AAP rad/cjh

KEYWORD: POLL QLD SECOND D/L

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