Springborg hoses down speculation he will be Qld's next governor

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 4:05pm

Fri 3 Jul 2026 at 4:05pm

In short:

Lawrence Springborg says he has not asked for, sought, nor been offered the role of governor, who represents King Charles in Queensland.

It follows media reporting that the mayor of Goondiwindi was tipped to replace Jeannette Young.

What's next?

The government says it is considering options for a new governor, with Dr Young's term to expire later this year.

Former long-time Queensland Nationals leader and ex-LNP president Lawrence Springborg has hosed down speculation he is set to become the state's next governor.

It follows media reporting Mr Springborg, who is currently mayor of Goondiwindi, was tipped to replace Jeannette Young when her term expires later this year.

Speaking to the ABC, Mr Springborg said he had not asked for, sought, nor been offered the role of governor, who represents King Charles in Queensland.

"I have one position in public office and that's the mayor of the Goondiwindi Regional Council," he said.

"We're basically two years into a four-year term and that's where my focus is.

"So, I'm not sure where it's all come from, beyond speculation — but certainly, I have heard nothing official about it."

Mr Springborg also added he would be "extraordinarily surprised" if he was to be appointed to the vice-regal role, which is decided by the government of the day.

"Certainly, the people who you would normally expect to talk to you about these positions and offer them certainly haven't talked to me," he said.

"I'm not seeking it, I haven't asked for it, and I certainly haven't been offered it, and nor do I expect to be."

In an interview with ABC Radio Brisbane earlier this week, Premier David Crisafulli also confirmed Mr Springborg would not be the next governor.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, who is an avid monarchist, would not weigh into possible appointees when asked about the issue last week.

"We are going through a process — a process of which governors have been appointed since the dawn of time in Queensland. Good try," he said.

"Her [Jeannette Young's] term as governor has an expiry date on it … and the government are considering options, and we are looking at the process."

Mr Springborg was in state parliament for almost 30 years and served as a minister in both the Borbidge and Newman governments.

He led his side of politics to three elections during the 2000s and played a pivotal role in the formation of the Liberal National Party in 2008.

Mr Springborg also served as president of the LNP from 2021 until he stood down from the job in 2025 following the party's election victory the prior year.

When he stepped down from the presidency, Mr Crisafulli praised Mr Springborg as a "unifying force".

Dr Young — a former chief health officer who helped steer the state during the Covid pandemic — was appointed governor during Annastacia Palaszczuk's time.