Former PM to teach Qld MPs how to win

Prime Minister John Howard drops in on Bribie Island with local MP Mal Brough for a $1m aged care announcement. Photo: Vicki Wood.

FORMER prime minister John Howard has been invited to teach Queensland state MPs how to win government.

Mr Howard, the nation's second longest-serving leader, has adopted a relatively low profile in politics since his election loss in 2007.

But he will be a guest presenter at a May 5 planning day for the Liberal National Party at Parliament House in Brisbane.

LNP leader John-Paul Langbroek told MPs that Mr Howard had agreed to discuss issues faced by political parties that had spent a long time in opposition.

"(Mr Howard will also address) ... the processes that they must adopt to prepare themselves, not only to achieve success in an election campaign as an alterative government with new ideas and solutions, but also the type of leadership, policy direction and energy of government necessary to deliver on the expectations of voters," Mr Langbroek wrote in a letter.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh told reporters that the LNP was desperate.

"They've had to go to yesterday's man, John Howard, to help them develop policy," she said on Friday.

But opposition treasury spokesman Tim Nicholls said Mr Howard had a lot of experience to share with MPs.

Labor has governed Queensland for all but two years since the 1989 election, with the most recent election being held 12 months ago.