Macfarlane urged to decide on Qld govt job

Retiring federal MP Ian Macfarlane can't afford to take his time in deciding whether he wants a plum Queensland government posting, the state's deputy premier says.

Mr Macfarlane earlier this week said he was considering an offer to take up a role as Queensland's resources investment commissioner.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull also last week reportedly called Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk asking her to delay appointing Mr Macfarlane to the position until after the federal poll was called to avoid a by-election.

But Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the government wanted to fill the role quickly.

"This is a really important position," Ms Trad said.

"The Palaszczuk Government wants to get on with the job of growing the economy, growing our exports and making sure that we've got a competitive environment here in Queensland."

That meant the government couldn't hold the position vacant for Mr Macfarlane for long, she said.

"Given that we don't know when the federal election is, given that we don't have a crystal ball or know what's going on in Malcolm Turnbull's mind," she said.

"It's very hard to say to the people of Queensland that we're going to hold back the economy while Ian Macfarlane makes up his mind."

Elected to parliament in 1998, Mr Macfarlane served as federal resources minister from 2001 to 2007.

He last year tried to defect from the Liberal Party room to the National party room, but the move was blocked by Queensland's Liberal National Party executive.