LNP official wins preselection in Wide Bay

Queensland Liberal National Party vice-president Llew O'Brien has been preselected to replace former deputy prime minister Warren Truss as the party's candidate for the safe conservative seat of Wide Bay.

Mr O'Brien, a police officer, defeated Fortescue Metals director Tim Langmead and Tourism Noosa chief executive Damien Massingham in a preselection ballot at Gympie, north of Brisbane, on Sunday.

He has been the party's state vice-president since late last year and had been endorsed by Mr Truss heading into the contest.

In 2014 he was forced to resign as the LNP's Wide Bay regional chairman during a preselection stoush involving former state MP David Gibson.

Wide Bay is considered a safe seat for the LNP and was retained by Mr Truss with a 13 per cent margin at the last election, meaning it is very likely Mr O'Brien will be heading to Canberra.

He said it would be a "privilege" to run for the seat.

"Wide Bay is a wonderful and diverse part of this state and I'm committed to working hard as strong local representative to ensure we can provide opportunities for our families and industries to grow and prosper," he said.

Mr O'Brien's preselection comes a day after LNP members in the southern Queensland seat of Groom, held by the outgoing former Abbott and Howard government minister Ian Macfarlane, selected Queensland state MP John McVeigh as the party's candidate.

The result means another preselection will need to be held for his state electorate of Toowoomba South.