Springborg favourite for new Queensland LNP leader

One time political journalist Scott Emerson is challenging former opposition leader Lawrence Springborg and Speaker Fiona Simpson for Queensland's LNP leadership.

With Premier Campbell Newman unseated after last weekend's state election, Mr Emerson waited until late yesterday to announce he would nominate for today's party-room ballot.

Mr Springborg, who led the National Party twice before becoming the inaugural Liberal National Party leader, is seen as the slight favourite for the job after being endorsed by the party's executive to negotiate on their behalf with cross-benchers this week.

But Transport Minister Mr Emerson, who is now in his third term in the Brisbane seat of Indooroopilly, has blue-ribbon support within the party.

Ms Simpson was first to declare her intentions after Saturday's election and is confident of an upset due to her popularity in pre-election polls and the need for a fresh start.

Other contenders may also throw their hats in the ring with speculation Ian Walker, Steve Dickson and Tim Mander are interested.

Meanwhile, voting continues for an eighth day today with four seats still in doubt.

Labor have 43 seats parcelled up, two short of gaining control of the 89-seat parliament in their own right.

The LNP have 39 but are projected to win 42, with Lockyer, Mount Ommaney and Whitsunday expected to go their way after postal votes are counted.

The knife-edge seat of Maryborough is the most intriguing with Independent Chris Foley closing in on Labor's Bruce Saunders thanks to a strong flow of preferences.