Brisbane Liberal Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has today joined Queensland Nationals Leader Lawrence Springborg and State Liberal Leader Mark McArdle in calling on Liberal Party delegates to turn up and have their say about the party's future at convention this weekend.
The move follows a Liberal State Council meeting last night which narrowly voted to defer a state party conference this weekend, which was expected to result in a merged Liberal National Party.
The push to defer a merger has been led by Liberal State president Mal Brough and Federal party president Alan Stockdale, who argue that unless a Liberal is appointed as president of the new entity then the merger would effectively be nothing more than a Nationals takeover.
This is despite 86pc of Liberal grassroots members voting in favour of the merger in its current form, and the threat that several sitting State Liberal MPs will defect and join the Nationals in a new united conservative party.
There have also been threats this morning from Liberals to take court action today to overturn the State Council's decision.
"My position remains that the merger must proceed. I am not convinced by Mr Stockdale, or State Council's argument," Liberal Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said.
"The Queensland Liberal Party members want this to happen and their overwhelming view should be respected.
"People should still show up and there should be a strong show of support for the merger.
"The convention should proceed as formally and legally constituted this week-end."
Queensland Opposition leader Lawrence Springborg said it was important for Liberal Party and Queensland National Party delegates to have a say in the future shape and form of Queensland’s new Liberal-National Party.
"I value the democratic rights of Liberal Party members and delegates," he said.
"This is why it is so important that delegates come to the planned convention this weekend.
"A new progressive Liberal-National Party will help deliver to Queenslanders the certainty and confidence they need from an alternative government."
Queensland Liberal Leader Mark McArdle called on the State's Liberal Party delegates to exercise their democratic right and have a say in the future direction of the Liberal Party.
"The Liberal and National Party merger is the biggest ever reform of non-Labor politics in recent history," Mr McArdle said.
"86pc of our membership support merging the Queensland Liberal Party and the Queensland Nationals.
"The future of the Queensland Liberal Party should be decided by its membership in this state and I urge members to be at the convention on Saturday."