Dumped LNP senator urges Vote 1 for him

Queensland LNP senator Ian Macdonald is ignoring his party's how-to-vote cards and has issued his own, directing voters to mark him number one.

The Townsville-based senator was dumped from the LNP's top spot on the Senate ticket and pushed into the unwinnable fourth sport.

He has hit out a the LNP over its candidate for the upper house, saying they're "not quality" and all are based in Brisbane.

The Courier-Mail says the former local government minister has emailed every local councillor in the state to implore them to vote for him.

"For the next election, my party has placed me No.4 on its ticket after three Brisbane Candidates, none of whom have any connection with local government," he wrote in the letter.

Senator Macdonald is listed below mining executive Paul Scarr, beef magnate Susan McDonald and accountant Gerard Rennick.

"I'm just saying what a lot of people from within the LNP from regional parts of the state have said," Senator Macdonald told the Courier-Mail.

He said he supported Prime Minister Scott Morrison and was "not being critical" of other LNP candidates.