Editing Lawrence Springborg (section)

==Parliamentary career==
In the [[1989 Queensland state election]], Springborg became the youngest person elected to the [[Parliament of Queensland]], winning the safe Nationals seat of [[Electoral district of Carnarvon|Carnarvon]] on the [[Darling Downs]].<ref name=":0" /> In the same year, the 32-year reign of the Nationals at the State level drew to a close. Springborg represented a new generation of Nationals not associated with the era of long-serving former Premier Sir [[Joh Bjelke-Petersen]] and the allegations of corruption and maladministration arising from the [[Fitzgerald Inquiry]]. Subsequent redistributions forced Springborg to relocate to his later seat in Southern Downs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hui |first=Jin |date=2017-10-30 |title='The Borg' bows out |url=https://warwicktoday.com.au/stories/2017-10-31/the-borg-bows-out/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=Warwick Today |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Nationals remained in opposition until 1996, when the [[Wayne Goss|Goss]] [[Australian Labor Party (Queensland Branch)|Labor]] government lost office following the 1995 state election and a consequential adverse finding in the Queensland Court of Disputed Returns and subsequent by-election loss of the seat of Mundingburra by Labor led the resignation of the then Premier [[Wayne Goss]]. The reformed National-[[Liberal Party of Australia (Queensland Division)|Liberal]] coalition took power under [[Rob Borbidge]] but only with the support of independent MLA [[Liz Cunningham]]. In 1998, shortly before the [[Borbidge government]] lost office, Springborg was sworn in as Minister for Natural Resources, again setting a record as Queensland's youngest ever minister. In February 1999, he was as elected Deputy National Leader.

The [[2001 Queensland state election|2001 state elections]] saw a massive win for the Labor Party, with Premier [[Peter Beattie]] going from a one-seat to twenty-two seat majority, and the Nationals reduced to 12 seats out of the 89-seat Parliament. After the election loss, the Coalition with the Liberals was ended and Springborg was reelected Deputy Opposition Leader.

Borbidge subsequently resigned as Leader of the Nationals and his place was taken by [[Mike Horan (politician)|Mike Horan]], father of international [[Rugby Union]] player [[Tim Horan]]. After widespread speculation and criticism, the Nationals elected Springborg as leader in 2003.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.abc.net.au/pm/stories/s776329.htm| title = PM - Springborg takes control of Queensland National Party}} </ref>