Lawrence Springborg

Interviewed by
Roger Scott & Chris Salisbury
Jun 15 2011
Lawrence Springborg
National Party member Lawrence Springborg entered parliament in 1989, he served in the Borbidge Government 1996-98 and played an integral role in the creation of the Liberal National Party.
Biography
Time Summary Keywords
00:00:00 Lawrence Springborg discusses his family history, education and introduction to politics. He describes the development of his political identity and attributes his commitment to conservatism to his rural background. He outlines the lead-up to a preselection ballot in 1989. Darling Downs, Young Nationals
00:04:37 Lawrence Springborg comments on the previous members of the seat of Carnarvon and the redistribution of 1991. electoral redistribution, Peter McKechnie
00:06:14 Lawrence Springborg discusses his education. He describes the formation of his political views and the influence of his schooling and living in the Bjelke-Petersen era. Joh Bjelke-Petersen
00:08:17 Lawrence Springborg outlines his thinking behind his decision to run for parliament. He discusses the experience of being a National Party parliamentarian after the 1989 change of government. Angus Innes
00:12:30 Lawrence Springborg describes the atmosphere in the parliament after the 1989 election and notes the attitude of the National Party to selecting members. Bill O'Chee, corruption, Fiona Simpson, Goss Government 1989-96, maiden speech, media, Tom Burns, Wyatt Roy
00:16:54 Lawrence Springborg discusses his early contact with the hierarchy of the National Party, preselections and branch member participation. He comments on the role of Sir Robert Sparkes in his initial selection, his time in the Young Nationals and coming into conflict with Sparkes. Joh Bjelke-Petersen, Mike Ahern, Robert Sparkes, Russell Cooper, Young Nationals
00:20:03 Lawrence Springborg discusses his political identity and conservative politics more generally.
00:21:05 Lawrence Springborg discusses One Nation and the rise of new political groups. He outlines the National Party approach to addressing Indigenous disadvantage. 1998 election, Australian Democrats, gun laws, Immigration issues, One Nation, Pauline Hanson, Port Arthur massacre, racism
00:26:30 Lawrence Springborg states his views on public service arrangements during the Goss era. Kevin Rudd, Peter Coaldrake, Wayne Goss
00:29:19 Lawrence Springborg discusses his time as deputy opposition whip and whip, both in government and opposition. He describes how the position was awarded, what the role involved and the difficulties of being whip while in minority government. He notes his difficulties organising colleagues as a young parliamentarian. Bob Katter, Borbidge Government 1996-98, Don Neal, Mike Ahern
00:34:11 Lawrence Springborg recalls the National Party return to government in 1996. He provides an overview of some of major issues of the Borbidge years. Brian Littleproud, Denver Beanland, Frank Tanti, Joan Sheldon, Ken Davies, Mike Horan, Mundingburra by-election 1996, Paul Keating, Rob Borbidge, Russell Cooper
00:37:46 Lawrence Springborg discusses his transition from whip to minister in the Borbidge Government. He outlines his approach to dealing with the Director General and the department. relationship with public service
00:40:07 Lawrence Springborg discusses policy issues he dealt with as minister. He describes the beginnings of coal seam gas, compulsory property acquisition, water and state ownership of land. He outlines the challenges of being a parliamentarian and minister. coal seam gas, Peter Beattie, water infrastructure
00:43:58 Lawrence Springborg describes the fall of the Borbidge Government and formation of the first Beattie Government. 1998 election, Borbidge Government 1996-98, Jim Elder, Joan Sheldon, Liz Cunningham, Mundingburra by-election 1996, One Nation, Peter Beattie, Rob Borbidge, Terry Mackenroth
00:47:21 Lawrence Springborg discusses his rise to take on the leadership of the National Party in 2003 and the transition from Borbidge to Horan to his own leadership. 2001 election, Kevin Rudd, leadership, Mike Horan, One Nation, Rob Borbidge
00:49:53 Lawrence Springborg discusses Beattie's media skills and the Smart State policy. He describes Smart State as building on the work of earlier governments. biosciences, biotechnology, Chuck Feeney, Mike Ahern, Peter Beattie, Rob Borbidge, Smart State, University of Queensland
00:53:50 Lawrence Springborg discusses the origins of the Smart State policy and some of its components. Crocs in Space, Great Barrier Reef, IT, mining, QIMR, Smart State
00:56:20 Lawrence Springborg discusses his time as Opposition leader and difficulties associated with reinvigorating the Opposition. He talks about coalition arrangements and debates over which party would take on the leadership in the 2006 election. He states that when he took over the leadership in 2003 he did not think he would still be leading the party when it returned to government. He was interested in rebuilding the non-Labor side of politics. 2001 election, 2009 election, electoral redistribution, Francis Nicklin, Peter Beattie
01:01:25 Lawrence Springborg outlines the formation and structure of the LNP and the appointment of Campbell Newman as leader of the LNP. Campbell Newman, Coalition, factions
01:05:23 Lawrence Springborg describes his regrets and his greatest challenges including the impact of politics on family life as well as his decision to step aside after the 2009 election. He discusses his achievements and highlights the satisfaction he receives from assisting his constituents. He states his greatest achievement as the formation of the LNP. 2009 election, Anna Bligh, work life balance
01:09:24 Lawrence Springborg reflects on the formation of the LNP and notes the importance of public opinion and branch membership support in building pressure for change.
01:14:14 Lawrence Springborg discusses the role of Opposition leader and reflects on the challenges presented by short media cycles, the rise of 5-8 second grabs and the lack of media attention focused on Queensland. He states that there is a high degree of agreement across parties and discusses some of the points of disagreement. Courier mail, media, The Australian
01:18:35 Lawrence Springborg discusses parliamentary structures and the outcomes of a recent parliamentary review into the functioning of parliament. Anna Bligh, committee system, Speaker
01:25:08 Lawrence Springborg outlines the new committee system and considers whether it will bring an end to calls for the reinstatement of an upper house. committee system, Crime and Misconduct Commission, Dorothy Platt
01:29:30 Interview ends.
Position:
Politician, National
Bailiwick:
Natural Resources
Decade:
1980s, 1990s, 2000s
Sound byte: 

Lawrence Springborg

Biography

Lawrence Springborg

National Party member Lawrence Springborg entered parliament in 1989, served as Minister for Natural Resources in the Borbidge Government (1996-98) and played an integral role in the creation of the Liberal National Party.

Lawrence Springborg was born in 1968 in rural Queensland. He left school after grade ten and worked on rural properties. He became involved in the Young Nationals and in April 1989 he was contacted by the member for Carnarvon who suggested that he consider running for the seat. 

He entered parliament at the 1989 election that also brought an end to the period of National Party dominance. The Nationals, however, were not out of power for long. With the formation of the Borbidge Government in 1996, Springborg served first as Whip and then as the Minister for Natural Resources. His time as a minister was short with the election of a minority Labor government in 1998. Springborg was the youngest person to enter parliament at age 21 and was the youngest person to serve in cabinet at age 29.

In 1999 he became the Deputy Leader of the Opposition and then rose to be Leader in 2003. He remained in the position until the 2006 election when the party again failed to defeat the Labor government. 

Springborg was a strong champion of the merger of the Liberal and National parties. He remains in parliament and will contest the 2012 election.

Copyright © The Centre for the Government of Queensland, the University of Queensland, 2011.

The copyright holder of this material grants users permission to access the material on this website for the following purposes only: research and study, education, other non-commercial and non-public uses.

Associated interviews: 
Joan Sheldon
Associated interviews: 
Mike Horan
Associated interviews: 
Rob Borbidge
Associated interviews: 
Russell Cooper